Chinese firm to build power plant in Bitung

A Chinese company has voiced interest to build a power plant with a capacity of 2x150 MW in Bitung, North Sulawesi, Antara news agency reported on Monday.

?The power plant is planned to be constructed at the special economic zone that will be built in Bitung,? Jenny Karouw, Head of Industry and Trade Office at the North Sulawesi Provincial Administration, said in Manado on Friday.

The power plant will be built and operated by the Chinese firm, she said.

She said the firm was a state-owned firm which is experienced in building power plants in various places in the world. She however did not divulge the name of the company.

The Bitung Special Economic Zone will cover a total area of 534 hectares. The government will first build its own facilities on 92 ha of lands at the economic zone before the Chinese firm realizes its project. In the beginning, the government will build road infrastructures into the economic zone starting this year.

The province has allocated Rp 5 billion in budget to start developing the economic zone and the central government, through the Ministry of Industry, has provided Rp 20 billion. (*)