Batam to provide electricity supply to Singapore

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry will open a competitive bidding for the construction and operation of a coal-fired power plant with a capacity of 800 megawatt to be built in Batam, Kontan reported on Monday.

Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Widjajono Partowidagdo said in Jakarta last week that about 600 MW of power supply form the new Batam power plant would be sold to Singapore, and the other 200 MW would be used to meet the surging local demand.

He said that the ministry was still conducting a feasibility study for the construction and operation of the power plant. ?The tender for the project will be held after the feasibility study is completed. PLN may join the tender,? he added.

Meanwhile PLN President Director Nur Pamuji said the state electricity company would join the tender to strengthen the company?s operation in Batam. At present, PLN operates a power plant with a capacity of 320 MW and has established a power interconnection network for nearby Bintan island.

Pamuji said that the power plant would not only enable the company to export the electricity to neighboring Singapore but also to cope with the surging local demand.

He said that the construction of the power plant would also allow PLN to receive additional gas supply because the gas supply currently given to Singapore would be diverted to PLN when the new power plant begins operation in 2015.

At present, PLN?s gas needs reach 2,000 billion British thermal unit per day (BBTUD), but it is only able to receive 800 BBTUD. (*)