China to further boost investment in electricity sector

China, one of the largest foreign investors in the electricity sector in Indonesia, will further boost its investment in the power sector through the construction of new power plants, Kompas daily reported on Friday.

Tan Wei Wen, a senior trade official at the Chinese embassy in Jakarta, said that the power sector in Indonesia remained the most feasible business sector for Chinese companies.

"Investing in the power sector is the most feasible for us because we have both the expertise and experience in this business," he was quoted as saying. China, the most aggressive investor in the Indonesian electricity business, had invested millions of dollars in the electricity sector either through the construction of new power plants or the acquisitions of existing power projects.

Among the power plants built by the Chinese companies are the gas fired Borang power plant in Palembang with a capacity of 100 MW, the Cilacap steam power plant with a capacity of 600 MW, the Labuhan Angin power plant in Sibolga, North Sumatra, with a capacity of 220 MW, and the Bangko Tengah steam power plant.

The total investment in the four power plants reached a total of US$700 million. (*)