East Java's large industries asked to reduce power consumption

The East Java office of state electricity company PLN has called on large industries in the province to reduce their power consumption at peak hours between 6 PM and 9 PM, Suara Pembaruan daily reported on Thursday.

PLN?s East Java distribution unit general manager Fachmy Mochtar told reporters recently electricity supply from PLN in the province was almost not enough for the constantly rising demand.

Power demand in 2002 is estimated to grow by around eight percent annually. Meanwhile, annual production of electricity from East Java reaches only 18,000 megawatts (MW) this year, Fachmy said.

Currently, East Java?s electricity consumption is estimated at around 13,000 MW annually in 2002, Fachmy added.

The largest industrial consumers are in the provincial capital of Surabaya, Mojokerto, Sidoarjo and Gresik.

Fachmy said power crisis will no doubt occur in East Java in several years if there is no new investment in the power sector up to 2004. (*)