Jakarta, Banten in electricity shortage on gas supply disruption

Jakarta and Banten areas are hit with fresh electricity supply crises after gas supply from BP-operated gas field to two of PLN?s combined cycle power plants in Jakarta was disrupted, spokesperson of the state electricity firm PLN Muljo Adji said on Monday.

Muljo Adjie said that gas supply from BP PLC-operated ONWJ Block offshore North Java to PLN?s Tanjung Priok (1,00MW) and Muara Karang (500MW) combined cycle power plants was cut by half to 130 MMCFD.

He said that the gas supply cut had caused 300-MW deficit on peak load hours as the two plant?s generating capacity was reduced by 750 MW. He urged industrial users to cut electricity consumption during peak-load hours. He also said that PLN would high speed diesel to power the plants, but he said that the effort would be limited as price of HSD is very high compared to that of gas and currently PLN is having almost US$2 billion fuel purchase debts to Pertamina.

Meanwhile, BP West Java Executive Vice President said that BP had stopped production of around 130BBTUD from APN field since Friday night after the company found leakage in the area.

Muljo Adji said that based on estimate from gas supplier, pipe repairworks would take around 2 weeks. (godang)