H1 power sales rise up to 7.82%

The national electricity sales rose by up to 7.82 percent in the first semester of the year, compared to the same period of last year, indicating a growth in the national economy, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said in a statement on Thursday.

Power sales increased in all categories of customers. In the social tariff category, sales reached 3.23 Terra Watt Hour (TWH) in the first half of this year, up 13.73 percent from 2.84 TWH in the first semester of 2015. Sales to customers of household category rose by 8.29 percent to 46.18 TWH from 42.64 TWH.

Sales to customers of business category rose by 9 percent to 18.71 TWH from 17.16 TWH, while sales to customers of industrial category increased by 5.91 percent to 33.65 TWH from 31.77 TWH.

Consumption by the government also increased. Sales to customers of governmental category climbed by 6.58 percent to 3.71 TWH from 3.48 TWH. Meanwhile, sales to customers of other categories spiked by 28.27 percent to 0.48 TWH from 0.37 TWH.

The ministry estimates sales throughout this year will reach 216.83 TWH, up from 200.60 TWH in 2015.

The ministry?s spokesperson, Sujatimiko, said the increase in power sales indicated a growth in the national economy. ?The increase in power sales came in line with the increase in the domestic absorption of coal production,? he said.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon