KUPANG. A Dutch consortium has said a ground breaking will take place in December to mark the start of the construction of a bridge spanning the sea between Flores and Adonara islands in East Nusa Tenggara.

"The ground breaking of the Palmerah bridge will be on December 20 this year to coincide with the anniversary of the province," a spokesman of the Consortium Latif Gau said on Saturday (24/6).

The consortium plans to build the bridge and a sea wave power generating plant on the Gonsalu strait in the regency of East Flores.

"Several days earlier, the Dutch ambassador met with East Nusa Tenggara Governor Frans Lebu Raya to discuss plan to build the Pelmerah bridge," Latif said.

He said implementation of the project has been delayed as the Indonesian government has not yet ready with initial feasibility study, and and detailed engineering study (DED).

He said the feasibility study being carried out by PT Bunana Archikom, and the DED are expected to be completed in October this year that ground breaking could take place before the end of this year on December, 20 as requested by the Eats Nusa Tenggara governor.

"The Governor wants the project as a gift for the anniversary of the East Nusa Tenggara province. We appreciate that," he said.

Latif did not say when construction of the bridge will start and estimate of its completion.

Separately, Governor Frans Lebu Raya said the Dutch company, Tidal Bridge, had asked the Indonesian government to immediately carried out the feasibility study and the DED.

The DED and the feasibility study would be needed by Tidal Bridge to start work to build the 800 meter bridge and the power turbine , the governor said.

Editor: Sanny Cicilia