Cilacap coal-fired plant set to begin operation this month

The construction of the Cilacap coal-fired plant in Cilacap, Central Java, which has two units each with a capacity of 1,300 MW, has reached its final stage, a senior official of state owned electricity company PLN, has said.

?We hope one of the two units of the Cilacap power plant will be able to begin commercial operation later this month or in March at the latest,? Muldjo Adji, the general manager for PLN?s power distribution and transmission was quoted as saying by Investor Daily.

He said that the trial test of the first unit of the Cilacap power plant had been carried out last month. ?We are now preparing its commercial operation,? he said, adding that the second unit was expected to begin commercial operation in May or June, this year.

The Cilacap power plant is one three major power plants being built by PLN. The two others are the Tanjung Jati B coal-fired power plant which has two units, each with a capacity of 660 MW, and the combined cycle Cilegon power plant which has a capacity of 740 MW.

Muldjo said that the Cilegon power plant was expected to begin operation in April, while the operation of the Tanjung Jati B was expected to be commenced in July, this year. (*)