Padang (ANTARA) - Gunung Silo which is a former coal storage warehouse at Pelabuhan Teluk Bayur Padang has officially become a world cultural heritage of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The inauguration of the status was carried out by handing over certificates from the Director of Cultural Heritage and Diplomacy at the Ministry of Education and Culture, Nadjamuddin Ramly to Padang Mayor, Mahyeldi in Padang on Tuesday.

Silo Gunung or also known as C Coal Storage Facility area at Emmahaven Port is the last place for coal transported from Sawahlunto with an area of 2.5 hectares.

Coal that is transported by train is unloaded at Silo Gunung to be raised to ships at the port of Teluk Bayur.

The Mayor of Padang, Mahyeldi, said that the determination of the Gunung Silo as one of the world's cultural heritages would enhance the tourism concept of the Old City of Padang.

In the future this area will be passed by passenger trains so that the location is strategic, he said.

Besides that, he will develop water transportation because it is also located at Pelabuhan Teluk Bayur.

For the development of Gunung Silo, he will map the area and identify buildings and hope there will be a memorandum of understanding with relevant stakeholders.

Director of Cultural Heritage and Diplomacy at the Ministry of Education and Culture , Nadjamuddin Ramly said that W Sumatra's World Heritage Management Agency needs to be formed.

"In building property in the world cultural heritage, we must be careful, so the Padang City Government must also coordinate with a team of world heritage experts so that its values will not be lost because it will be evaluated annually by UNESCO," he said.

He said that the Gunung Silo should not be changed but could be fixed according to the original.

Translated by: Mutiara Ramadhani

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