ITDC, Pertamina plan to develop solar power plant

State-owned Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) and state-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina plan to form a joint venture company that would develop a solar power plant in Mandalika special economic zone in West Nusa Tenggara Province.

ITDC President Director Abdulbar Mansoer was quoted by Kontan.co.id on Friday as saying that the electricity would be purchased by state-owned electricity company PLN to help increase power supply in Mandalika, whcih is also a tourism destination.

He said that the planned solar power plant project will gradually be developed up to 50 MW capacity by 2019, with the first phase expected to start commercial operation in 2017.

?The (planned) solar power plant will be operated using the hybrid concept with the PLN electiricty, where the solar power plant will reach maximum capacity during day time, while during night time time the power need will be fulfilled by PLN,? Abdulbar said.

He added that ITDC has presented the solar power plant project to PLNG recently during a focus group discussion initiated by the Ministry of Finance.

Mandalika currently has electrification ration of 73.46 percent, higher than the national average of 71-72 percent. The region is projected to require power supply of up to 110 MW by 2025.(*)