30 ships ready to handle coal shipment for new power plants

At least 30 ships have been operated to transport coal supply for three new coal-fired power plants ? PLTU Suralaya Baru, PLTU Labuan, and PLTU Indramayu - which will begin commercial operations in July, this year, Binis Indonesia reported on Monday.

Vice chairman of the association of the Indonesian National Ship-owners? Association (INSA), L. Sudjatmiko, said in Jakarta last week that the national-flagged ships had been prepared to transport the coal supply for the three power plants since early this year.

?But they have been operated to transport other commodities due to the delay in the operation of the power plants from March to July,? he said. He said the ships have the capacity to transport about 8,000 tons of coal each.

The three power plants are part of several major coal-fired power plants built as part of the government?s first-10,000 megawatt power plant development program. The three new power plants will need coal supply of about 2 million tons a year, respectively. (*)