Austindo to complete expansion of biogas power plant in August

By Thomas R. Sembiring

PT Austindo Afwind New Energy, a subsidiary of IDX-listed palm oil company PT Austindo Nusantara Jaya Tbk, is currently expanding the capacity of its biogas power plant in Bangka Belitung from 1.2 MW to 1.8 MW, which is expected to be completed in August of next year, Deputy President Director of Austindo Nusantara Istini Siddharta said.

Istini told Petromindo.com Thursday that the company has signed an MoU with state-owned electricity company PLN for the supply of the extra power from the plant to the latter company.

He added that power from the biogas power plant has been supplied to PLN, and that the company has signed a new selling price for the electricity. He did not provide further details.

The government has been encouraging for the development of power plants based on new and renewable energy sources such as palm oil mill effluent. New and renewable energy sources currently remains low at about 5 percent of the country?s energy mix.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak