15 foreign investors want to build power plants in North Sumatra

At least 15 investors from Malaysia, China, Turkey and Thailand have expressed interest to build power plants, including mini-hydropower plants, coal-fired power plants and geothermal power plants in North Sumatra, MedanBisnis.com reported on Friday.

The investors have applied for permits from North Sumatra?s Board of Investement and Promotion and the Board has issued principal licenses for the investors, The Board?s Head Purnama Dewi said, without provide details about the identities of the investors.

Once they have completed all administrative requirements, the investors will soon realize their investment plans.

?North Sumatra has huge hydropower, geothermal potential resources. Many investors see the potentials as investment opportunities and at the same time they want to solve the protracted electricity crisis in the province,? she said.

The investors are mostly interested in mini hydropower projects with capacity of 3 MW and 20 MW and the investment they plan to spend the prower projects may reach US$200 million. Their focus areas are among others Tapanuli Utara, Langkat, Humbahas, Asahan, Pakpak Barat, Serdang Bedagai. (*)