11 new power plant operate outside Java this year

As many as 11 new large-scale power plants have commenced their operation outside Java this year, giving additional power supply of about 443 Megawatt (MW) to state owned electricity company PLN, Bisnis Indonesia reported on Thursday.

Bani Marbun, PLN's expert staff for marketing and commercial affairs said in Jakarta on Wednesday that the 11 power plants included two hydro power plants Renun II with a capacity of 82 MW and Sipansihaporas with a capacity of 38 MW in North Sumatra, and coal-fired steam power plant Bili Bili II with a capacity of 20 MW in South Sulawesi.

The other six new power plants include geothermal power plant Mataloto (2.5 MW), coal-fired steam power plant Umbu Biner (2.5 MW) in East Nusa Tenggara, the combined cycle power plant Pamaron I (80 MW) in Bali and combined cycle power plant Palembang Timur (50 MW) in South Sumatra.

He said that the total additional power supply from new power plants both from Java and outside Java was projected to reach 3,203 MW until the end of 2006. "Next year, four new power plants ith total capacity of 2,760 MW will begin operation," he said.

The four power plants include coal-fired steam power plants Cilacap (300 MW), Tanjung Jati B (1,320 MW), combined cycle power plant Cilegon (730 MW), geothermal power plant Drajat (110 MW). (*)