PAN China To Invest Rp10 Trillion In Seram

Ambon, Nov 21 (ANTARA) - PAN China International plans to invest up to Rp10 trillion (US$105 million)in the regency of Seram Bagian Barat (ABB), Maluku. The Chinese company wants to develop a special economic zone (KEK) in the district areas, SBB regent Jakobus Puttileihalat said here on Wednesday. Jakobus said the investment plan was already submitted with a presentation to the Maluku provincial administration early this week. "We have prepared 5,000 hectares of land for the KEK project after Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu gave his approval," Jakobus said. With the development of KEK, the process of explorations of mineral wealth including oil and gas explorations could start in SBB area, he said. The investors also would build houses for thousands of workers they need, he said. The KEK development project is a follow up of a memorandum of understanding signed between the Maluku provincial administration and the Chinese province Henan when Governor Karel visited China as a member of the entourage of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in March, 2012. President Yudhoyono and a number of cabinet ministers including Minister for State Companies Dahlan Iskan were present to witness the signing of the MoU. "The project needs only realization as details have been prepared by Chinese consultant, Jakobus said. He said a number of big factories are expected to be built in the KEK as based on a survey by Chinese experts SBB has potential mineral reserves including oil and gas. "The first phase will soon start with heavy equipment already moved to Gunung Tinggi for nickel explorations," he said. He hopes that the central government would facilitate the Chinese investor in developing the KEK in SBB. According to plan, nickel processing, aluminum, ferro-nickel, coal, steel and stainless steel factories would be built in the KEK, he said. "Therefore, it is estimated that tens of thousands of job would be created in the project," he said. The project would also contribute to development of other related sectors in the area , he added.