Energi Nusantara teams up with Chinese firm in power plant project

By Nova Farida

Petromindo

Indonesian private power company PT Energi Nusantara Merah Putih is teaming up with China?s Sinland Development Pte Ltd to develop a 600 MW combined-cycle power plant (PLTGU) project in Bantaeng, South Sulawesi Province.

The two companies on Friday signed a MoU for cooperation in the development of the power plant project, which will be integrated with an LNG receiving terminal. Sinland is a subsidiary of China Machinery Engineering Corp (CMEC).

Energi Nusantara President Director Westana H. Wiraatmadja said that the planned power plant will provide electricity for the Bantaeng Industrial Zone (KIBA), where nickel smelters are being developed. ?The emerging smelter industry has greatly increased power demand in Bantaeng. This project is aimed at supporting electricity supply in KIBA,? he said.

Westana said that financial close for the estimated US$980 million power plant project is expected to be made next year, to be followed with construction process in the hope that it could be completed in 2021.

He said that it has yet to be decided whether the required gas for the power plant will come from domestic sources or import.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak