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THE CONSTRUCTION OF
LOMBOK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Sustainable development in West Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Barat or NTB) is very much the emphasis of the regional government, and the importance of good access is well recognized. Currently direct access to Bumi Gora (NTB’s nickname, from the acronym Gogo Rancah, a rice planting system where NTB was the pilot project for the program in the 80’s) is an obstacle to the development of economy in NTB. The construction of the Lombok International Airport (Bandara Internasional Lombok, or BIL) is seen as the answer to this problem. How can it not be? This cooperative project between PT Angkasa Pura and the Regional Government of NTB, will, it is hoped, be able to attract the interest of investors so that they are willing to invest large sums of money in NTB.
The decision to proceed with the construction of BIL was based on several aspects, not simply as an access for investors. According to the General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I, I Ketut Erdi Nuka, there are several reasons behind the construction of the International Airport on Lombok. One of this is that the regional government hopes that by having an international airport that can accommodate large aircraft, international flights and Al-Haj Flights can be made directly from Lombok, and as result the BIL is hoped to be able to boost the growth of the economy in NTB. Another reason is that Selaparang Airport in Mataram can no longer be expanded due to natural and environmental conditions that do not comply with the operational and technical aspects required for large long-haul aircraft. Additional, PT Angkasa Pura I already acquired a plot of land of 539ha in Central Lombok in 1995 for the development of the new airport.
Pak Erdi explained that Selaparang Airport cannot be developed into an international airport because of natural conditions. He said its main facility, which is the runway, cannot be further extended or widened. This is because Selaparang Airport is located near community housing and the topography of the location makes it impossible to be further developed. Right now, the length of the runway at Selaparang Airport is 2500 meters with a width of 40 meters. Ideally, the runway for an international airport should be 3000 meters long and 45 meters wide. The extension of the runway requires an enormous amount of funding.
Meanwhile, regarding the location of the airport in Central Lombok, Pak Erdi said that the area in Central Lombok was chosen because of a number of factors. The location passed the feasibility study in terms of air safety as well as airport criteria. Its flat area with no mountains nearby and a stable wind direction, which where the main requirements in developing an international airport, were also factors that make this location suitable to be developed into an international airport. Before determining the location for the new airport, PT Angkasa Pura did a detailed survey of three locations, one of which was in Rambitan, quite close to the Kuta area.
The development of the Kuta area as an integrated tourism area, as proposed by Emaar Properties, is another strong reason why the construction of the new airport was chosen to be in Central Lombok Regency, particulary in the Pujut area. The trip from the new airport to the tourism area will only take about a quarter of an hour.
Since the ground breaking ceremony until the land clearing process, the progress of the BIL development has shown a significant increase. It is noted that up until January 2009, according to data recorded by Angkasa Pura, the physical construction of the new airport, such as the construction of the runway, has reached 61 percent. This work is conducted by contractor PT Hutama Karya. Besides that, other construction projects, such as the passenger terminal has reached 22 percent. Other projects like ME Airside, control tools, and ME Landside are still under final development and tender. Acceleration of the development process is being done intentionally in order to achieve the completion and operational target which is in late 2009.
Regarding the obstacles in constructing the new airport, Pak Erdi admits that the development of the BIL has received both pros and cons from people, particularly from people in the surrounding communities. They even held a demonstration to reject the development of the new airport. But slowly the people began to understand the importance of this project to the development of the region. The construction was further disrupted by the rise in the cost of construction materials which was caused by the increase in fuel prices last year. PT Angkasa Pura and the government were then forced to revise the budget for the construction of the BIL.
The construction is divided into several phases and into eight projects. Two of the projects will be done by the regional government which are the taxi way and apron. In 2007, the regional government of West Nusa Tenggara allocated funds in the amount of over Rp. 13 Billion to construct the apron and over Rp. 28 Billion in 2008 so that the total amount of funds allocated by the government for the construction of the two supporting facilities in the new airport is about Rp. 45 billion. The remaining Rp. 55 billion will be tendered this year for the construction of the concrete layer of the apron and taxiway. Meanwhile, the government of Central Lombok is in charge of the construction of the entrance way to the airport and landscape. This work is divided into three packets: road access that reaches 14 percent, landscaping which is still under tender, and the vehicle parking area which reaches 8-10 percents.
The funds for the construction, which total some Rp. 665 billion, said Bambang, is a cooperation between PT Angkasa Pura I who contributed Rp. 515 billion, the Regional Government of West Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Barat, or NTB) with Rp. 110 billion and the regional government of Central Lombok with Rp. 40 Billion.
The rationale for construction:
- The Government’s decision to build an international airport in Lombok immediately.
- The existence of an airport which can accommodate wide-bodied aircraft will spur the economic growth in NTB, particularly to those areas such as the Middle East, Australia, Japan, Taiwan and Korea.
- Selaparang Airport can no longer be expanded due to technical and operational considerations.
- PT (PERSERO) Angkasa Pura I purchased the land in Central Lombok in 1995 with a total area of 538.8Ha to replace Selaparang Airport.
Development Scope:
- PT (PERSERO) Angkasa Pura I will build all of the airport facilities (airside & landside), excluding the ones that will be built by regional government of NTB and Central LomboK, FOR AN AMOUNT OF Rp. 515 billion.
- PEMPROV NTB (the regional government of NTB) will build the airside facilities such as the Taxiway, Apron & other supporting facilities for the amount of Rp. 110 billion.
- Pemkab Lombok Tengah (the regional government of Central Lombok) will build the landside facilities such as the parking area for cars and motorcycles, the subsequent roads and other supporting facilities for an amount of Rp. 40 billion.
Source funds:
- PT (PERSERO) Angkasa Pura I Rp. 515 billion.
- Regional Government of NTB Rp. 150 billion Development Stages (According to the Master Plan):
- PHASE-I, Stage-I (2006-2009):
» Runway: 45m x 2500m
» Apron: 52,074m²
» Taxiway: 2 exit taxiways
» Terminal: 12,000m² (2M passengers per year)
» Carpark: 17,500m²
- PHASE-II, Stage-II (2013-2015):
» Runway: 45m x 2750m
» Apron: 63,294m²
» Taxiway: 2 exit taxiways
» Terminal: 16,500m² (2.4M passengers per year)
» Carpark: 29,100m²
- PHASE-II (2028):
» Runway: 45m x 3500m
» Apron: 74,514m²
» Taxiway: 12 exit taxiways, 2 rapid exit taxiways, 1 parallel taxiway
» Terminal: 28,750m² (3.25M passengers per year)
» Carpark: 29,100m²
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| Lombok International Airport |
Runway |
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| Terminal |
Taxiway |
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT FULLY SUPPORTS
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BIL
The local government is giving special attention in supporting the construction of the Bandara Internasional Lombok (BIL). The local government of NTB has clearly stated their serious supped in accelerating the construction. The Governor of NTB, through the head of public relations Pak Andi, stated that support is given in the form of funds allocation for the construction of the BIL. Hence the supporting facilities will be done by the local government.
As emphasis, Pak Andi added that the construction of the BIL will be the gateway to the rise of the local economy. The BIL is hoped to be able to increase the prosperity level of the people of NTB. The fact that large aircraft can go directly to NTB without having to make a transit elsewhere will surely provide more benefit to the region while increasing the economy by adding more investment. The tourism sector would also be influenced. Emaar Properties have even said that they support the advances in NTB’s tourism by inviting one million foreign tourists from the Middle-East.
Besides the Government, other relevant sectors in the airport’s operation have also stated their support such as PT PLN Persero who will supply the power to the new airport with an electric power plant and its installation of 2x25 megawatt in Jeranjang, West Lombok District; the local Water Company (Perusahaan Air Daerah, or PDAM) who will supply clean water to the airport location; PT Telkom who will install the communications network; and the provincial Department of General Works who will build so access road from Mataram to the airport area and to Kuta, as well as the connections to the eight regions that covers Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara. The Government hopes that everybody in the community will support the construction of the BIL.
(Re-written from Lombok Times Daily, issue #62, February - March 2009)
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