Jokowi says HVDC project must proceed

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has instructed that the 500 kV high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line linking Java and Sumatra must be developed as has been planned under the recently approved 2016-2025 electricity procurement business plan (or RUPTL) of state-owned electricity firm PT PLN.

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sudirman Said was quoted by viva.co.id as saying Sunday that the president, during an earlier meeting, said that the government is already on the right track with regards to electricity development program, and expected all parties including PLN and independent power producers (IPPs) to realize what has been planned.

Sudirman said that the HVDC project can no longer be bargained, and that PLN must implement it. He added that he has sent a letter to PLN to realize the project.

The remarks come following earlier objection expressed by PLN President Sofyan Basir, saying that the HVDC project must be reviewed as it was planned about a decade ago, which may no longer be suitable to current condition.

Sudirman said that the HVDC project is important to help ensure power supply to the highly populated Java Island. The planned development of the Sumsel 8, 9 and 10 coal-fired power plant projects in South Sumatra depend on whether PLN agrees to proceed with the HVDC project as the electricity output will be distributed to Java. (*)