Indonesia, China sign energy cooperation deal

Indonesia and China have signed three memorandum of understanding (MoU) documents to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation in the field of energy.

The MoU documents were signed on Tuesday by Vice President Boediono during his visit to Nanning, Guangxi where the 4th Indonesia-China Energy Forum was held.

State Minister for State Enterprises Mustafa Abubakar, who also joined the Vice President?s entourage, said that the MoUs would be used as the basis for the two countries? cooperation in several energy projects including the development of a 3x 115 megawatt coal-fired power plant in Celukan Bawang, Buleleng regency, Bali province.

On Monday, Buleleng regent Putu Bagiada MM held a groundreaking ceremony to mark the start of the construction of the Celukan Bawang power plant.

The contractor of the power plant is PT. General Energi Bali. The construction is expected to be completed in July 2012

The two other MoUs involve the development of a managanese project in Kupang, West Nusa Tenggara and an oil and gas project. Mustofa did not provide details of the projects, including the location of the oil and gas project. (*)