Austindo?s biogas power plant in E. Belitung inaugurated

Director General of New Energy and Renewable Energy Rida Mulyana inaugurated over the weekend the 1.2 MW Jangkang Belitung biogas power plant in East Belitung, owned by PT Austindo Aufwind New Energy (AANE).

The directorate said in a statement received Monday that the inauguration ceremony was attended by AANE President Commissioner George S. Tahija, and senior officials from the local East Belitung Regency administration and state-owned electricity firm PT. Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN).

The power plant is the first independent power producer in the country using palm oil mill affluent (POME) as fuel. It is targeted to produce 8.5 million kWh of electricity per year, supplying it to some 2,500 local households.

The statement said that the electricity produced from the plant will be sold to PLN, which would help save cost as electricity from biogas is cheaper than electricity from diesel-fired power plant.

The government expects more POME-based power plant to be developed in the country, the largest palm oil producer in the world, where new and renewable energy consumption remains low as it only accounts for 5 percent of the national energy mix.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak