Indonesia’s ports push smart and blue agenda

Pelindo and KBS want to become models of efficiency and ‘green’ stewardship.

Indonesia’s port operators are stepping up efforts to integrate digitalisation and sustainability as its logistics sector grapples with rising emissions, even while remaining a key driver of the economy.

State-owned PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) and PT Krakatau Bandar Samudera (KBS) are positioning their Smart and Blue Port initiatives as models of efficiency, resilience, and environmental stewardship.

“The Blue Port initiative marks not just the beginning of smarter ports, but the gateway to a sustainable maritime future,” Febriandika Putra Anggia, head of research and innovation at Pelindo, told a forum in Jakarta in July.

Pelindo is rolling out Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, blockchain, digital twin systems, and 5G-powered automation to strengthen cargo flow efficiency and safety.

The company is also electrifying loading equipment, installing shore-to-ship power, and deploying hybrid auxiliary systems for engines. Solar plants, energy-efficient lighting, and seawater reverse osmosis facilities are also being developed.

Environmental rehabilitation features prominently. Projects include coral reef restoration on Pendawa Coast, mangrove replanting, and seagrass transplantation on Bintan Island, as well as protection programs for turtles, sharks, whales, and green mussels.

“Digitalization and sustainability are key to maritime supply chain efficiency,” Febriandika said. “We are investing not only in technology, but also in human resources to ensure long-term resilience.”

KBS, which operates Krakatau International Port in Cilegon City, Banten province, is taking a similar path. The port handles 25 million tons of dry bulk annually and throughput of 20,000 tons a day across 17 berths and 11 harbor cranes.

“At KBS, we believe efficiency and sustainability must go hand in hand,” Mulyadi, vice president for maintenance at KBS, told the same forum.

Its proprietary KIP operating system, integrated with enterprise resource planning software developed by the German company SAP SE, has streamlined operations and set a benchmark for the dry bulk sector.

KBS’s broader Smart Port ecosystem includes vessel tracking, intelligent navigation, estimated time of arrival prediction, digital cargo handling, automated gates, and online booking and payments. To speed up trade, its platforms are linked with Customs and Agricultural Quarantine systems.

The company has introduced water mist conveyor systems to curb coal dust, oil spill response units, and a 30 cubic-meter sewage treatment plant for water recycling. Renewable efforts include 22 kilowatt-peak of solar panels powering capacitor banks, electric vehicle shuttles, and solar streetlights.

Biodiversity surveys have guided conservation efforts for Javan sparrows, Maroon clownfish, and Acropora corals.

“Our environmental responsibility is as important as our operational role,” Mulyadi said in an emailed reply to questions. “From water mist systems that reduce coal dust, to oil spill readiness and biodiversity conservation, we are proving that growth and sustainability can coexist.”

Both Pelindo and KBS have laid out a 2025–2035 roadmap focused on stronger public-private partnerships, incentives for green infrastructure, wider digital adoption, and workforce development.

“With Smart and Blue Ports, Indonesia is not only keeping pace with global trends—it is setting new standards for sustainable maritime logistics,” Mulyadi said.