Govt launches investigation into South Sumatra power project
Saturday, March 16 2002 - 01:53 AM WIB
The directorate general of electricity and energy utilization will form a special team to investigate the case of the Besai hydro power plant in Lampung, South Sumatra, which has to stop from operating because it was recently drowned by floods.
The Koran Tempo daily quoted director general Luluk Sumiarso as saying that the investigation would cover the project design, feasibility study, and the contractor handling the project.
The paper said that the 90 MW power plant, located in Sukapura village, Bukit Kemuning area, North Lampung, was developed at a cost of US$100 million financed with loans from Japan and the World Bank.
But in less than one year since it was inaugurated by Megawati Soekarnoputri when she was still vice president, the power plant has to stop operation because of the floods.
Because of the suspension in the operation of the Besai power plant, the people of Lampung had to suffer brown outs.(*)