By Samantha Carter, Chief Editor
Kalimantan is currently navigating a pivotal crossroads in its infrastructure development. According to RJ Lino, former president director of PT Pelindo II, the island’s future prosperity may depend less on conquering its challenging terrain with asphalt and steel, and more on re-embracing the natural river systems that have served as the region’s original arteries for centuries.
The Case for a River-Centric Logistics Model
For years, development across the island has followed a continental logic, prioritizing roads and railways as the primary symbols of modernization. However, Lino argues that this approach often resists the island’s unique geography, which consists of vast peatlands, swamps, and dense forests. These conditions make land-based infrastructure projects expensive to build and tricky to maintain, as heavy trucking places significant strain on road surfaces and necessitates constant repairs.
In contrast, Kalimantan already possesses a vast, underutilized network of rivers—including the Kapuas, Kahayan, Katingan, Mentaya, Barito, and Mahakam. Lino suggests that these waterways offer a more energy-efficient and sustainable alternative for moving freight. By shifting long-distance transport to barges and reserving roads for final-mile delivery, the region could reduce fuel consumption, lower emissions, and ease traffic congestion.
Strategic Integration
The vision proposed is not a complete abandonment of land-based transport, but rather a shift toward integration. Lino envisions a multi-modal logistics architecture where rivers, roads, and ports function as a unified system. This could involve:
- Strategic Connections: Developing localized, shorter canal links to connect major river basins, such as the Kapuas-Barito or Barito-Mahakam corridors.
- Modernized Terminals: Improving existing infrastructure through dredging, digital traffic management, and the construction of inland logistics terminals.
- Coastal Synergy: Integrating inland river networks with coastal shipping and roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) corridors to link Kalimantan more effectively with the broader national economy, including Java and Sulawesi.
What May Happen Next
If policymakers choose to pivot toward this geographic-aligned strategy, the transition is likely to be gradual. A possible next step involves focusing on the modernization of existing river terminals and the adoption of more efficient barge fleets. Over time, as freight circulation matures, the development of strategic connector canals could follow. Should this shift occur, the island may move away from a model of fragmented provincial corridors and toward a more synchronized, resilient, and efficient economic ecosystem.
the challenge for Kalimantan lies in recognizing that its rivers are not merely geographical features to be bypassed, but foundational assets that could define the next stage of the island’s development.