Construction of Gunung Megang gas-fired power plant to begin next month

The construction of a gas-fired power plant at Gunung Megang, Muara Enim in South Sumatra will begin in December 2005, the Kompas newspaper reported in its Tuesday edition

The 80 megawatt capacity plant is expected to start its operation by middle of 2006.

According to South Sumatra Governor Syahrial Oesman, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources had already issued all the permits for the development of Gunung Megang gas-fired power plant. The state-owned electricity firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) has signed a memorandum of understanding to purchase power from the plant.

With all these, the work of the US$80 million project is set to begin in December 2006.

Gunung Megang power plant will be the second biggest plant to be built in South Sulawesi this year. The work of giant 2,400 megawatt coal-fired power plant at Bangko Tengah began earlier this year. Bangko Tengah is also in Muara Enim area.(*)