"Electricity is the critical problem for investors."Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung (ANTARA News) - Poor infrastructure remains a major problem constraining investments in Bangka Belitung province, an official of Bangka Belitung Investment Coordinating Board (BKPMD) has claimed.
"The infrastructure is still poor, particularly electricity and ports which impede the investors from investing," Bangka Belitung Investment Coordinating Board Chairman, Zakaria Umarhardi said here on Thursday.
He stated that the investors have to pay higher costs since electricity has not been provided and roads to ports have not been constructed.
"Electricity is the critical problem for investors. Although the government has constructed the coal-fired power plant (PLTU) in Air Anyir, Merawang district, it does not supply electricity," he said.
He added that the shallow water around the port does not allow ships to dock easily.
"A lot of investors have complained that they are unable to load and unload commodities at the Pangkal Balam port because of problems in docking ships," he said.
The depth of the sea around Pangkal Balam port is about four to five meters and ships have to wait until low tides to dock.
"The investors have asked the local administration to construct a deeper port at a depth of least eight meters so that they do not have to wait until low tide for shipping their products," he said.
Umarhadi mentioned that the Bangka Belitung BKPMD has obtained investments worth Rp 5.3 trillion until the second quarter of 2012.
(J.010/INE/KR-BSR/H-YH)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
