Five hydropower plants might be unable to operate on declining water debit

State-owned electricity firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) said that the continued decline in water debit in a number of water reservoirs would threaten the operation five hydropower plants in Java-Madura-Bali.

The five hydropower plants are Cirata power plant in West Java with a capacity of 1,008 MW, Saguling power plant in Central Java with a capacity of 700 MW, Jatiluhur power plant in West Java with a capacity of 150 MW, Merica in Central Java with a capacity of 180 MW and Sutami power plant 105 MW in East Java.

"If the water debit continues to decline, it is possible that the hydropower plants will be unable to operate," said the Java-Bali power distribution center's general manager Muljo Adjie AG.

PLN said that it was ready to operate a number of diesel-generated power plants in an anticipation of the possible power cuts if several hydropower plants failed to operate. "If that happens, the consumption of fuel in Java-Bali is predicted to increase up to 37.5 percent to 5.5 million kiloliters (kl)," he said. (*)