Construction of Lombok-NTB power plants start today

The construction of two coal-fired power plants with a combined capacity of 75 Megawatt (MW) in Lombok island, West Nusa Tenggara province has started.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the PLTU Lombok-NTB 1 (1x25 MW) and PLTU Lombok-NTB 2 (2x25 MW) in Jeranjang hamlet, Kebon Ayu village, Gerung district, West Lombok regency was presided over by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro on Thursday.

The development of Lombok-NTB 1 is estimated to cost Rp 296.3 billion (US$ = Rp 10,680. The project will be financed using the state budget, including Rp 68.8 billion from the stimulus funds provided by the government to cope with the current economic crisis. The construction works for the power plant will be handled by PT Wasa Mitra Engineering, PT Twink Indonesia dan PT Ciria Putra Sinergi. It is scheduled to start operation in the second quarter of 2010.

Meanwhile, Lombok-NTB 2 is part of the Phase One 10,000 MW fast-track program of state owned electricity firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN). As such, the project will be financed by PLN. The project is estimated to cost $30.7 million and Rp 354.3 billion. The construction works will be handled by state owned construction firm PT Barat Indonesia (Persero) under a turnkey EPC mechanism. The first unit is expected to start operation in August 2010 and the second unit in 2010.

Both projects are expected to absorb 2,000 workers. Once they start operation, both power plants will consume 195,000 tons of low-ranked coal per year, which is equal to 69,000 kiloliters of oil-based fuel. The use of coal as fuel rather than oil will result in Rp 370 billion savings in operating costs.

During the ceremony, Purnomo also announced the planned development of several power infrastructure projects that will be financed using the ministry's stimulus funds. The projects are the Jeranjang 150 KV main station, the Ampenan 150 KV main station, the Praya 150 KV main station and the 150 KV high voltage overland powerline linking Ampenan, Jeranjang and Praya. These infrastructure projects will ensure the supply of power to be produced by the Lombok-NTB power plants to consumers in an efficient and secure manner. (Bernard)