Bili-bili hydro power plant soon to come on stream

State-owned electricity firm PT PLN is currently conducting a two-week running test on the Bili-bili hydro electric power plant in South Sulawesi, PLN?s region official said Wednesday.

?We hope after this running test, the Bili-billi will ready to start supplying its electricity to Sulawesi grid,? said head of PLN Sulawesi region Ahmad Siang.

According to Ahmad, the Bili-bili has two power generation units, each with the capacity of 1x14 megawatt (MW) and 1x6 MW. The project is financed by Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC).

Ahmad also said PLN was offering to investors the contract to construct of Poigar 2 hydro power project with capacity of 30 MW in North Sulawesi. The project, which is expected to start operation by end of 2007 or early 2008, will be financed by Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Aside from Poigar 2, PLN is offering to investors the contract to build the 20-MW Lahendong goethermal power plant in the area, which is expected to come on stream between 2008 and 2009.

PLN on Tuesday signed a contract with Japanese firm Sumitomo for the construction of the 20-MW Lahendong II geothermal power plant. The project is expected to be completed in June 2007

Aside from all those projects, Ahmad said, PLN had also planned to construct a 2x100 MW coal fired power project in Jeneponto, South Sulawesi. PLN has secured a loan of Rp 2.2 trillion from the Spanish government for the project.

"The power project is currently entering the feasibility and environmental assessment studies,"Ahmad said.

According to Ahmad, the existing power plants are now able to supply about 500 MW to the Sulawesi power grid, while the peak demand is about 480 MW.

Ahmad added that the electricity demand in the grid grew by 10 percent per year. (dino)