Hundreds of villagers attack Tanjung Jati B power plant

Hundreds of residents from the Kaliaman village at the Kembang district in Jepara Central Java ran amok Friday and destroyed a security post at the Tanjung Jati B power plant nearby following the death of a villager believed to be killed by the power plant?s security men, Kompas reported Saturday.

The daily said that the villagers stormed the coal-fired power plant after resident identified as Suroto, about 30 years old, was found dead at the nearby river.

According to witnesses, Suroto was shot by the plant?s security man right at his thigh at dawn Friday when he attempted to steal electric cables at the power plant.

The news about the man?s death which quickly spread around the village angered the local residents. They attacked the security post and destroyed other facilities at the power plant.

General Manager Tanjung Jati B Affianto Hapsoro said that the accident did not affect the operation of the plant.

The newspaper said that the situation returned to normal after a police unit from the town of Pati arrived and dispersed the crowd. A number of security men at the power plant were later taken to the police office in the town for investigation.

The Tanjung Jati B, which was launched by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on October 2006, has two power units each with the capacity of 660 MW. It is owned by PT Central Java Power (CJP), which is controlled by Japanese trading house Sumitomo.

CJP has entered into a 23-year lease contract with PLN, under which PLN is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the power plant during the lease period. (*)