More than 100 container cranes

This year, Rotterdam will become the first port outside Asia with more than 100 specialised container quayside cranes in operation. Last year, the number was 92, this year it will be 103. This is according to the latest edition of "Rotterdam Port Statistics".
A unique feature of the port of Rotterdam is the large number of specialised cranes for inland and coastal shipping: 30. It requires less investment and it is possible to load and unload more quickly if smaller canes are used to handle smaller ships.
This year, new cranes have arrived or will be arriving: Euromax Terminal, ECT Delta Terminal Delta Barge Feeder Terminal, Interforest Terminal Rotterdam and Rotterdam Shortsea Terminal.

Increasing of the fuel price decrease the investment

The Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) predicted that investment interest to Indonesia would be decreasing, following the government decision to increase subsidized fuel price. Chairman of BKPM, Muhammad Luthfi, refers to the investment condition after the increasing of fuel price in 2005. (Bisnis Indonesia,Sat May 24, p. 2)

BI: Inflation could reach more than 12%

The Indonesian Central Bank (BI) calculated that the increasing of fuel price about 30% would lead to a 12% inflation in 2008, two times higher than the last two years, about 6%. Deputy of BI governor, Hartadi A. Sarwono, said that without the increasing of fuel price, the inflation rate was predicted more than 9%. This prediction is much more than this year inflation target, around 5%. (Kompas, Fri May, 23, p. 1)

Oil and natural gas investment in Indonesia became less competitive

In the middle of decreasing national oil production, Indonesian based oil and natural gas companies have evaluated that the investment climate in this sector has become less conducive. Amount of problems related to the bureaucracy and cost recovery that appeared in the last two years need a solution. According to the survey from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), there are five problems that make the oil and natural gas industrial in Indonesia became less conducive and competitive. They are the lack of diligence for the oil and natural gas contact, uncertainty on the cost recovery especially related with the findings of the Indonesian Supreme Board (BPK), taxation, intervention from the government institution other than Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, and the safety guarantee on assets. (Kompas, Fri May, 23, p. 18)

West Sulawesi invites investors to build infrastructure

The government of West Sulawesi invites investors to help in speeding up the development of infrastructure and the basic needs of this province that worth Rp. 4.2 trillion at the beginning of next year. The Governor of West Sulawesi, Anwar Adnan Saleh, explained that they need investors that are willing to have business in West Sulawesi. This province received only Rp. 500 billion this year from the central government. (Bisnis Indonesia, Fri May, 23, p. R1)

Water crisis in West Java

West Java is having a water crisis. It is not just limited access to clean water but also to sources of good quality water. “This is the consequence we have when the government is reluctant to invest in the water source,” said environmentalist of Forestry and Environmental Observation Board, Tatar Sunda, Mubiar, in Bandung yesterday. However, the government claimed that they have provided clean water through a water management system since 2003. It is being carried out in Bekasi, Indramayu, and Karawang. “We also have it in Subang and Cirebon,” said Aat Taryana from city planning department for West Java. (http://www.tempointeraktif.com/hg/nasional/2008/05/23/brk,20080523-123552,uk.html)

Price of geothermal electricity increased

The government issued the price regulation on geothermal electricity. Based on this regulation, the price of geothermal electricity is 7-8 cent USD per kWh, higher from the price before that less than 5 cent USD per kWh. The government hopes that with this new price the geothermal electricity business will become more interesting. This new price regulation is stated on the regulation of Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources No. 14 Year 2008 (Kompas, p. 17)