Jokowi warns 35,000 MW must be realized in five years

President Joko Widodo, better known as Jokowi, has warned state owned electricity firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) that it must do its utmost to realize the 35,000 MW power plant projects within five years.

?The 35,000 MW target is realistic. It must be achieved with hard works. Adequate availability of power is key to achieving economic growth and public welfare,? Jokowi said during a recent meeting with PLN?s board of management recently, according to a statement from PLN.

PLN said in the statement, a total of 109 power plant projects will be developed in the five-year period from 2014 through 2019. Of the 109 projects, 35 with a combined capacity of 10,681 MW will be developed by PLN. The remaining 74 projects with a combined capacity of 25,904 MW will be developed by Independent Power Producers (IPP).

This year alone, PLN will sign contracts for the development of 10,000 MW as the first phase of the 35,000 MW program, according to the statement.

With a projected economic growth of 6 to 7 percent, Indonesia needs to increase its installed capacity by 7,000 MW per year. That means Indonesia needs to increase its installed capacity by 35,000 MW in five years.

The 35,000 MW power projects are estimated to cost more than Rp 1,127 trillion, according to the statement.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon