Jakarta Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno has said that the city administration is considering an offer from PT Ratu Prabu Energi to develop a 200-kilometer light rail transit (LRT) project with a US$200 billion investment value.

“Today, Ratu Prabu Energi, one of the largest business groups in Indonesia, visited us to offer a mature concept for the construction of 200-kilometre LRT project in Jakarta and surrounding cities,” Sandiaga said on Thrsday at City Hall as reported by Antara.

He added that the project was a full business-to-business (B2B) scheme without government guarantee and would be implemented between 2020 and 2025.

“The project will involve investors from South Korea, China and Japan. We are happy because the proposal is a concrete measure for solving traffic congestion in the capital,” Sandiaga added.

Sandiaga said he was informed that Ratu Prabu Energi had already talked to the Greater Jakarta Transportation Body (BPTJ) and the Transportation Ministry about the project.

The city administration will carry out a comprehensive feasibility study on the project, Sandiaga said, adding that such a massive project would create many jobs and would help Jakarta have better public transportation. – The Jakarta Post

Malaysia Airports sees slower traffic growth

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) expects passenger passenger traffic growth to dip to 6.3 per cent in 2018 after an 8 per cent growth in 2017.

Its managing director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali said yesterday the airports owner and operator was also looking to reduce its stake in its 100% owned Istanbul Sabiha Gokchen International Airport (ISG) in Turkey.

Speaking at MAHB’s media briefing on Malaysia Airports’ Business Update & 2018 Outlook, he said MAHB was in talks with 10 parties to sell down the stake.

“We will maintain our majority stake in ISG in the short term but for the long term we can’t say, anything is possible,” he said.

ISG, is one of two international airports in Istanbul.

The other airport in the Turkish capital is the Istanbul Ataturk Airport. The third airport, Istanbul Grand Airport, is currently under construction, it was reported.

ISG currently serves over 50 international airlines. It serves about 40 domestic networks. – The Star

Lao govt speeds up access to electricity

The Lao government has spent billions of kip in 2017 to install and expand the power grid in villages across the country to ensure that more households can have access to electricity.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines reported that it received approval for investing 145.82 billion kip in 77 transmission line development projects last year.

In a report on the development of the energy sector in the first nine months of 2017, the ministry said it had spent 106.74 billion kip, or about 73.19 per cent of the total value of the projects.

“The approval of about 145.82 billion kip is mainly for the expansion and installation of low and medium voltage transmission line projects that is the responsibility of the ministry,” the ministry’s Office Head, Dr Daovong Phonekeo, said.

“Investments in the higher voltage power grid and substation development projects are mainly the responsibility of another sector, especially Electricite du Laos (EDL),” he said.

The ministry’s report said Laos had a total power grid system of 57,897.17 km in 2017. compared to 54,690.87 km in 2016.

“This 57,897.17 km includes not only the low and medium voltage transmission lines, it also includes the high voltage power grid,” Dr Daovong said. – The Vientiane Times

PCC approves buyout of FamilyMart stores

Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy has obtained imprimatur from the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) to acquire the 67-store Philippine FamilyMart store chain through his petroleum trading and distribution arm Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc.

In a press statement, the PCC said it had approved Phoenix Petroleum’s per cent acquisition of Philippine FamilyMart CVS Inc (PFM) or Philippine Family Mart.

Based on a decision made on January 3, the PCC’s Mergers and Acquisitions Office (MAO) found that the transaction “does not result in substantial lessening of competition in the relevant market.” – Philippine Daily Inquirer