October 16, 2025 | 08:38 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated that the National Strategic Investment Fund Manager, or Danantara, is capable of repaying the debt of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train project, also known as Whoosh. Purbaya mentioned that Danantara has enough money from state-owned enterprise (SOE) dividends, around Rp90 trillion, while the high-speed train debt is Rp2 trillion annually.
Therefore, Purbaya stated that the payment of the high-speed train debt does not need to utilize the state revenue and expenditure budget, or the State Budget (APBN). "It is sufficient to cover the Rp2 trillion annual payment for the high-speed train. I am sure the money is there every year," said the former Chair of the Deposit Insurance Corporation after the Danantara Board of Supervisors meeting at Wisma Danantara, Jakarta, on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
Nevertheless, Purbaya mentioned that Danantara CEO Rosan Perkasa Roeslani is currently reviewing the debt repayment. According to him, the China Development Bank does not require the government to make the payment as long as the payment structure is clear. "So, there should be no problem," he said.
Prior to that, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Danantara Dony Oskaria explained two potential settlement options that are being considered, which are through equity or government infrastructure acquisition as practiced in other railroad industries.
Dony added that the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train project has had a significant economic impact with increased mobility and 30,000 passengers per day. However, he emphasized that the sustainability aspect of the PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) business, which now is part of PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) or KAI, must also be maintained through the appropriate financing scheme.
Meanwhile, State Minister Prasetyo Hadi stated that the government has no plans to use the APBN funds to repay the high-speed train project debt. In his statement at President Prabowo Subianto's residence in Kertanegara, Jakarta, on Sunday night, October 12, 2025, Prasetyo stated that the government has discussed alternative steps to find a non-burdensome financing solution for the APBN. "Some time ago, it was also discussed to find a scheme, a scheme so that a financial burden can be resolved," he said as quoted by Antara.
When asked if the topic of the Whoosh debt repayment was discussed in a limited meeting with Prabowo, Prasetyo responded that it was not discussed at the meeting. "Not tonight, not tonight. Whoosh is not one of the discussion topics tonight," Prasetyo answered media questions regarding solutions for Whoosh.
Ilona Esterina contributed to the writing of this article.
Editor's Choice: Why Minister Purbaya Wants Indonesia's High-Speed Train Debt Moved to Danantara
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