Previously, the electric rail train (KRL) procurement contract was already signed by both parties on March 9, 2023. As KAI Commuter President Director Suryawan Putra Hia said, this procurement of train facilities is the commitment in supporting the government’s program to increase domestic production and import substitution through the Domestic Product User Improvement Program (Peningkatan Penggunaan Produksi Dalam Negeri - P3DN).

In addition to 16 new KRL train sets, the contract also deals with procurement of 612 units of SS New Generation Trains for the replacement program in 2023-2026. Both parties also agreed on the procurement of 10 luxury train cars with 26 seats which will be provided for use on KA Argo Lawu, KA Argo Dwipangga, and KA Taksaka trains with one additional maintenance car as a backup for the 2023-2024 period. 

Indonesia’s plan to import KRL

KAI Commuter VP Corporate Secretary Erni Sylviane Purba stated that Indonesia’s plan to import KRL is still under review by various agencies, including Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP), Directorate General of Railways under the Ministry of Transportation (DJKA), and the Ministry of Transportation.

Previously, Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Kartika Wirjoatmodjo explained that the State-Owned Enterprise Ministry is still conducting a final review with BPKP and Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

“That will take some time. If it’s agreed, we may push it in about six months. So, if we accelerate it from May or June, our hope is that we can operate and add them by December,” said Kartika on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. 

According to Kartika, the government has realized that the public needs an immediate solution for limited number of KRL. The Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) has also recalculated and found that there should be an increase of 10-12 KRL units.

In addition, the government is also considering retrofitting old trains by upgrading them with new technology or features as an alternative to acquiring new trains from INKA. This retrofitting process is set to take place from 2024 to 2025, alongside the acquisition of new trains.

“I have discussed this with the Head of BPKP and reported to the Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment. The point is that there is something we are trying together, pushing for an increase in Domestic Component Level [TKDN] through the ongoing construction of INKA factory in Banyuwangi and we are ensuring that in 2025 it will start production," Kartika added quoted by Tempo.