Chinese firm to build power plant in Lampung
Saturday, May 28 2011 - 02:18 AM WIB
?The project is expected to also help accelerate the Mesuji integrated city project, which has been hampered by limited power facilities,? said Lampung Governor Sjachroedin Zainal Pagaralam on Friday.
According to Sjachroedin, the Chinese investor, CHD Powerplant Corporation, has conducted feasibility studies and will immediately begin construction.
?It should start operating by 2013, so the two newly autonomous regencies of Mesuji and West Tulang bawang [both separated from Tulang bawang regency] could progress further,? he said.
The Lampung office of state electricity company PLN?s general manager, I Gusti Agung Suteja, said his office would help facilitate the project.
?We are very upbeat about the investment. We will facilitate any investor. However, we must coordinate with the central government for consideration? he said.
?We have to consult with the government, given the huge amount of investment. The central government must know about it and give its consideration, especially a foreign investment involved in the energy sector of a huge amount of money," he added.
Suteja said PLN estimated an annual power demand increase of 70 MW According to him, the issue must be anticipated early.
?So far, Lampung has relied heavily on the Sumatra interconnection network because the total power output produced by power plants in the province was limited. Lampung will be independent in the power sector when two thermal power plants (PLTU) in Sebalang, South Lampung, and the geothermal power plant in Ulubelu, Tanggamus regency, are complete?, he said.
Previously, two South Korean investors committed to invest Rp 3 trillion in energy in Way Kanan and Tanggamus regencies. In Tanggamus, the Waysemangka hydropower plant (PLTA) has a 75 MW capacity while the Waysemuong PLTA has 20 MW
In Way Kanan, the Waybesai PLTA has an output of 30 MW, including the Wayumpu PLTA with a total output of 5 MW. (*)