Cilacap power plant will begin commercial operation in May

The newly constructed Cilacap coal-fired power plant in Cilacap, Central Java is expected to begin commercial operation in late May, the director of the plant operator PT Sumber Segara Primadaya, Ahmad Ilham Rasyid said as reported by Investor Daily on Saturday.

"We hope the new power plant could be connected to the Java and Bali power distribution network also by the end of May," Ilham was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

He said the first unit of the coal-fired power plant would begin on Monday next week its trial operation, which would be carried for 168 hours. "The second unit will also soon conduct its trial operation so that both units can be fully operated in May," he added.

The new power plant, which uses about 2.2 million tons of coal a year to be supplied from PT Adaro Indonesia, PT Kideco, PT Jorong Barutama Greston, is operated by PT Sumber Segara Primadaya, a joint venture between PLN's subsidiary and PT Sumber Energi Sakti Prima, with stake ownership of 49 percent and 51 percent, respectively.

With the use of coal, the new power plant can save the use of fuel of about 1.1 million kilo liters a year or equivalent to about Rp 5.1 trillion based on the current diesel fuel price of Rp 5,200 per litter. (*)