Construction of the Asahan hydropower plant will be commenced in June

After years of delay, the construction of the Asahan hydropower plant with capacity 2x90 MW in Toba Samosir, North Sumatra will finally be commenced in June, this year, Bisnis Indonesia reported on Thursday.

R.E Nainggolan, the head of the North Sumatra development planning board (Bappeda) said in Medan on Wednesday that the plague to commemorate the start of the power project would be signed by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro in Jakarta today (Thursday).

"On Saturday, Vice Governor of North Sumatra Rudolf Pardede will inspect the site for the ground breaking ceremony of the power project," he added.

The plan to build the Asahan hydropower plant was firstly unveiled in 1982. But due to the financial crisis in 1998 the project was halted. Nainggolan said that the construction of the first unit of the power plant, with a capacity of 90 MW is scheduled for completion in December, 2009. "While the second unit which will also have capacity of 90 MW is expected to begin operation in March 2010.

The construction of the new power plant will help solve the power shortage in the province, which is estimated to reach 150 MW during peak hours. (*)