Construction of PLTU TJK Batam power plant on schedule
Monday, March 7 2011 - 02:26 AM WIB
PLTU TJK Power president director Margamulia Arifin said over the weekend that the construction of the company?s power plant which would have a capacity of 2 x 55 megawatt had been 30 percent completed. ?We are optimistic it can begin commercial operation in June 2012,? he added.
PLTU TJK, which is 90 percent owned by PT Petra Unggul Sejahtera and 10 percent by PLN Batam, initially planned to build the power plant in 2007 but it was delayed because several local banks including BNI, BRI and Bukopin pulled out from the project in 2008 due to the global financial crisis during the year.
The company renegotiated the project with PLN to increase the power tariff to 3.99 US cent from 3.62 US cent and then secured funding commitment from the Chinese banks to enable it to resume the project.
The power plant is built by Chinese construction company China Huadian Engineering Co. a subsidiary of China Huadian Corp.
Meanwhile PLN said that the Tangka Manipi hydropower plant in South Sulawesi was also expected to begin operation.
Like PLTU TJK Power plant, the Tangka Manipi hydropower plant was also originally scheduled for construction in 2007, but it was delayed in 2008 due to the financial crisis. After renegotiations, PLN agreed to increase its purchasing price to Rp 601 per kilowatt-hour, enabling the resumption of the project. (*)