Comparative Analysis on Integrated Coal Transport Models in South Sumatra

Among the implementation of sustainable development in Indonesia is the effort to achieve an efficient transportation system for freight. Coal is the most valuable commodity for economic activity in South Sumatra Province and become one of the biggest coal producers in Indonesia. Coal transport activity from the production site to port before being exported are mostly using land transport via highway in South Sumatra. They have various negative impacts such as traffic jam, fatal traffic accident and also pollution. This paper attempts to compare some possible coal transport systems in South Sumatra Province combining the available transport networks namely highways, railways and waterways transport. Those possible integrated transport system model will be compared using cost calculation and technical aspect comparison analysis to measure the most system that supportive to sustainable development. The result shows that transporting coal by integrated railways and river to mother vessel transhipment has the advantage of aspects of traffic disruption and damage to the environment for short term period. Meanwhile, the coal transport of coal by railways directly to coal massive terminal servicing mother vessel transhipment has the advantage for long term period. This result can be used as the basis for policy making on how to utilize the potential waterways (river) as alternative freight transport system.

Keywords:

Sustainable Development , Integrated Coal Transport , Comparative Analysis , South Sumatera