Summary

PT Bandara Internasional Bali Utara (BIBU) Panji Saki, a potential investor in the North Bali Airport project, has stated that he will maintain the offshore design of the airport. This follows the decision of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, that the airport will be built on land. Saki explained that based on his team's research, building the airport offshore is safer and quicker than on land. He argued that land acquisition is the most time-consuming aspect of infrastructure development on land. If the airport is built offshore, investors will not have to spend time acquiring land for facilities and pre-facilities.
BIBU Panji Saki has conducted a study of seven alternative locations, with the offshore option scoring the highest. Saki said that if necessary, his team could explain why building the airport offshore is the best option. He added that he could not imagine the airport being built on land, as land acquisition could take more than 10 years, which could discourage investors.
Two companies are currently competing for the North Bali Airport project: PT Bandara Internasional Bali Utara (BIBU) Panji Saki and PT Pembangunan Bali Mandiri (Pembari). Luhut Binsar Panjaitan recently invited potential investors to report their project plans to his office. However, it was Pembari, which proposed the on-land airport model, that was invited, not BIBU Panji Saki.