Cilacap power plant to begin operation in December

The Cilacap steam power plant, now under construction in Kesugihan district, Cilacap, Central Java, is expected to begin its commercial operation in December, this year, almost a year ahead of the initial schedule, Kompas reported on Thursday.

Maotin, the operational manager of the steam power plant, said in Cilacap early this week that the construction of the 1,200-MW steam power plant had been 80 percent completed. "We are optimistic the power plant can be operated in December," he added.

According to Maotin, almost all of the most difficult construction works such as the installation of the 210-meter chimney, the 167-ton boiler and 200-ton generator had been completed.

The Cilacap power plant is operated by PT Sumber Segara Primadaya, a joint venture between PT Sumber Energi Sakri Prima (51 percent), a subsidiary of a Chinese company; and PLN's subsidiary PJB (49 percent).

The total cost of the new power plant is expected to reach US$510 million. About US$408 million of the total funds were provided by Bank of China, and the remainders were provided by the joint venture.

PLN has recently asked the operator to speed up the construction of the Cilacap power plant in a bid to cope with the sharp increase in the power demand in Java and Bali. The plant was initially scheduled to operate by the end of 2006.(*)