Bolok power plant in Kupang to start operation

State utility company PT PLN has targeted to operate one unit of Bolok coal-fired power plant in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara province, with a capacity of 16.5 Megawatt (MW) at the end of this year.

The electricity project (PLTU), which has a total capacity of 2 X 16.5 MW, is part of PLN?s first stage 10,000 MW fast track electricity program aimed at reducing the region?s reliance on the expensive diesel fuel power plants and in turn strengthening the electricity infrastructure in Timor.

?Currently, the electricity project development has reached 80 percent. The remaining 20 percent has to do with testing and commissioning. It is to check and synchronize hundreds of equipment units of the power plant. That?s also the most difficult part in developing a power plant,? said PLN President Director Nur Pamudji when visiting the project on Wednesday.

He said the total investment for the development of the Bolok project was Rp 450 billion, which was wholly funded by PLN. It will need 19 million tons of coal per year that will be supplied from Kalimantan.

East Nusa Tenggara province, especially Timor island, has been relying on diesel fuel power plants (PLTD) that are usually expensive to operate as diesel fuel price has become very high nowadays. With the operation of the Bolok power plant, several PLTD would stop operations.

The province has now a peak load of 117 MW, consisting of 59 MW in Timor island and the rest generated through four separated systems of electricity. With the operation of the new PLTU, the electricity system in Timor island can be later made integrated in order to improve the security of electricity in the region.

Until 2011, PLN has finalized the development of 3,790 MW coal-fired power plants under the first stage of fast track program. This year, PLN has targeted to finalize the development of 3,172 MW coal-fired power plants. The others will be in operations in 2013 and 2014.

Editing by Benget Besalicto Tnb