Durian. Provincial government of West Java proposed to central government of Indonesia to develop Cirebon, Patimban and Kertajati (REBANA) to be a new metropolitan area, Governor Ridwan Kamil said on Feb.16 during a virtual coordinating meeting led by Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan.
The development of the new metropolitan area aims to prevent uncontrollably spreading of industrial area like what’s happened in Bogor, Depok, Bekasi, Karawang and Purwakarta industrial zones in West Java.
REBANA metropolitan area will be developed in the area of 43,913 hectares where coastal ecosystem and defence to be fixed as well by the establishment of salt farm centres and mangrove planting in several locations such as in Subang and Cirebon regencies.
In Patimban, Subang regency, the government has been developing Patimban International Seaport. The seaport has been operating partially since Dec.20 last year as its first phase of construction has completed.
The seaport project is expected to complete in 2026-27 with capacity of 7.5 million TEUs and can accommodate up to 600 completely build up cars. The port is operating by state-owned seaport operation Pelindo.
Meanwhile, Kertajati Airport was proposed to become airplane maintenance location. The airport has been operating since May 2018, serving domestic flights.
“Patimban Port and Kertajati Airport are vocal points in norther part of West Java,” Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi who attended the virtual meeting said.
Moreover, Cirebon lies in the border with Central Java province and in the northern coast of West Java.
