Das Batam-Projekt. Indonesische Entwicklungsplanungen im Riau-Archipel

Abstract In 1972 the government of the Republic of Indonesia, the state oil corporation P. N. Pertamina und some oil companies of Japan and the United States set up a gigantic development program for the small 572 sq. km wide island of Batam. This undeveloped island of the Riau Archipelago with a population of about 8,000 persons (1973) is located about 20 km southeast of Singapore. Key project of the comprehensive development program is the construction of a big oil refinery able to reach a production capacity of 300,000 bbl/day and an oil harbour for receiving 200,000 dwt crude oil tankers. Besides the oil industry and several supporting industries the plan also enables agriculture and tourism to be developed. It is estimated that in the first stage of development (1974—1984) it will generate 40,000 new iobs to support a population of about 100,000 people. The development of Batam with an ultimate total population (beyond 1984) of about 600,000 persons can be a demonstration unit for other countries of Southeast Asia.