Jokowi inaugurates two power plants in Papua
Thursday, December 21 2017 - 12:43 AM WIB
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) officially inaugurated on Wednesday the operation of the 50 MW PLTMG Jayapura gas engine power plant, and 20 MW PLTMG Nabire, both in Papua Province.
State-owned electricity firm PT PLN said in a statement on Wednesday that the Rp 444 billion PLTMG Nabire in Nabire Regency was developed by a consortium comprising of PT PP (Persero) Tbk, Wartsila Finland Oy, and PT Wartsila Indonesia. The consortium has also been given a five-year contract for the operation and maintenance of the power plant, which actually started operation on December 8.
PLN said that the additional 20 MW power supply from PLTMG Nabire has increased the installed capacity in the Nabire system by 105 percent to 42 MW.
Meanwhile, the 50 MW PLTMG Jayapura, located in Jayapura City, the capital of Papua, was also developed by the same aforementioned consortium, at a cost of Rp 866 billion, which was also assigned a five-year contract for operation and maintenance.
The power plant, which started operation on November 24, has increased the installed capacity in the Jayapura system by 60 percent to 205 MW.
PLN said that the operation of the two new power plants is expected to help increase investment activities in Papua Province.
The utility company said that the two power plants form part of PLN efforts to realize its target for increasing electrification ratio in Papua and West Papua provinces to 85.96 percent by 2020 by which time all villages in the island are projected to have enjoyed electricity lights.
PLN said that next year, new power plants with combined capacity of 115 MW are targeted to be completed in Papua Province including in Merauke 40 MW, Biak 15 MW, Serui 10 MW, Timika 10 MW, Jayapura 40 MW. Another 80 MW is targeted to be completed next year in West Papua Province including in Manokwari 20 MW, Raja Ampat 10 MW, Sorong 30 MW, Fakfak 10 MW, and Kaimana 10 MW.
Jokowi on Wednesday also inaugurated village electricity program covering 74 villages in Papua and West Papua provinces.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak