Coal barges get no load as PLN?s power plants delay operation

As many as 30 coal barges, which were prepared for transporting 5.92 million tons coal per year for three power plants, have to find new loads to compensate losses caused by the postponement of three coal-fired power plants? operations, Bisnis Indonesia reported Wednesday.

PT Majukarsa Perdana Jaya Line's president director L. Sudjatmiko said the 30 barges had been prepared by the national tucks and barges operators for transporting coal to the 1x600 MW PLTU Suralaya in West Java, 3x300 MW PLTU Indramayu in West Java, and PLTU Paiton in East Java, which were scheduled for operation in early 2010.

?Until now the three power plants are not yet in operation. I?ve been informed that they have postponed their operations until May 2010,? he told Bisnis on Tuesday.

Sudjatmiko, vice chairman of the Indonesian National Shipowners Association (INSA), said that the barges have an average of transporting capacity of 8,000 tons per unit. Due to the postponement of the operations of the three power plants, the owners of the 30 barges have to find other loads.

?We are suffering loss. But that?s business. We are still committed to (state owned electricity firm) PLN,? he said. (*)