Angkasa Pura to build power plant for Kuala Namu airport

State owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II (AP II), the operator of the Kuala Namu international airport in Medan, North Sumatra, said it will build a 50 MW power plant to support the operation of the airport.

President Director Budi Karya Sumadi said the firm has communicated with several other state owned firms (SOEs) on the plan.

?We have coordinated with several SOEs in order to create a synergy to realize the power plant project. The SOEs are Adhi Karya (construction firm), Pertamina (oil and gas firm) through Pertagas (Pertamina?s subsidiary) which is expected to supply gas as well as build the power plant,? Budi was quoted by kompas.com as saying on Friday in Medan.

During the visit to Medan, Budi also held talks with the province?s governor. The governor asked AP II to give state owned electricity firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) access to the power plant once it has been completed so that PLN can use some of its capacity to meet the province?s power demand.

?What we know is that North Sumatra is power deficit. During the discussion, we stated that t the power plant would not only supply power to Kuala Namu but also ease power shortages in Medan and surrounding areas,? Budi said.

Investment for the power project is estimated at Rp 700 trillion with a construction period of 15 months.

AP II plans to use 15 MW of the capacity for the airport and sell the remainder to PLN. The project needs 5-10 ha of lands. (*)