IN PROFILE
Beyond coal An Indonesian owner is diversifying aware of long-term trends for its main cargo
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aving just bought its first panamax, Indonesia’s coal transfer specialist, Asian Bulk Logistics (ABL) is now looking at entering the gas trades. The Jakarta-headquartered firm has nine coal transfer ships on its books and nearly 100 barges to go alongside panamax bulker Bulk Batavia which it acquired last month, fixing it on a long-term charter to haul coal around Indonesian waters. As well as its coal operations in Indonesia, ABL has a growing business assisting bauxite exports from Guinea in West Africa. Under Ika Bethari, ABL’s president director, the company has been moving away from its coal origins, aware that the commodity is increasingly being shunned. Diversification of business lines has been ongoing for a number of years now, with a growing focus on nickel as well as overseas acquisitions. “We don’t want to spend capex with high investment risks,
Spot on
Asian Bulk Logistics 10-year-old diverse Jakartaheadquartered firm with interests in ports, barges, blending and latterly panamaxes.
ISSUE THREE 2020
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We don’t want to spend capex with high investment risks
however we don’t want to miss any good opportunities,” Bethari tells Maritime CEO. The Indonesian government is also cutting its reliance on coal, announcing plans to transform 52 power plants to gas, something where Bethari can see a clear opportunity for ABL to branch out further with a possible entry into the feeder gas tanker trades. ●
“Technology is always ahead of regulations, but we have to use it if we want to stay ahead of regulatory pressure” — Søren Andersen, CEO of StormGeo
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