We must make a calculation of these buses to have a good safety standard
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi reviewed the progress of manufacturing of Red and White electric buses (BLMP) at state-owned rolling stock company PT INKA in Madiun, East Java, on Sunday.

"We must make a calculation of these buses to have a good safety standard," he remarked.

He wanted to make sure that the production of the electric buses can be completed on time, in order to support the implementation of the G20 Summit to be held in Bali, in November 2022.

Hence, Minister Sumadi asked PT INKA to speed up the electric bus manufacturing so that there is still time for improvement before they can be used.

He also lauded PT INKA for collaborating with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology as well as some universities, in the use of domestic components reaching a level of more 50 percent.

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"This will open up new spaces for domestic products and opportunities for academicians in universities to conduct research and innovation," Sumadi remarked.

Sumadi also lauded the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry who had supported research funding for the production of domestic electric buses.

"Currently, we are building 30 electric buses and the number will continue to grow," he said.

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The Red and White electric bus, which is built to be lighter than a regular bus, can travel 160 km and only takes 2.5 hours to be fully charged.

Several BLMP buses have also been ordered by state-owned bus company DAMRI for operational in several areas such as Bandung and Surabaya.

During his visit to PT INKA, the minister also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Hybrid and Smart-Based Light Rail Research and Development carried out by The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), PT INKA, state railway company PT KAI and several state universities.

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Translator: Adimas P, Kenzu T
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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