Local consortium signs contract to build N. Sumatra power plant

A local consortium comprising PT Menamas, PT Betasurya and PT Saktimas has signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract worth about Rp 827 billion (1US$= Rp 9,420) to build a 1x112 Megawatt (MW) combined cycle power plant in Sicanang, Belawan, North Sumatra.

Fahmi Mochtar, state owned electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara's (PLN)acting Director for Power Generation and Primary Energy, said in Jakarta on Monday that the consortium decided to use a combined cycle technology so that the power plant could use both gas and diesel oil as fuel.

In the early stage of its operation, the Belawan power plant would use high-speed diesel (HSD), he said, adding that it was one of new power projects to cope with the power shortage in northern Sumatra.

He also said PLN had earlier signed an EPC contract with PT Bumi Loka worth about Rp 37.99 billion to build two "mobile" diesel power plants with a capacity of 50 x 100 kilowatts and 100 x 50 kilowatts.

"These diesel generators have been in operation since November," he said.

PLN has also signed three other turbine supply contracts, respectively, with the consortium of PT Indo Turbine and Medco Energi Internasional with a capacity of 1 x 11.86 MW worth Rp 123.55 billion, with the consortium of PT Imeco and PT Indonesia Power with a capacity of 1 x 21.46 megawatt worth Rp 271 billion and with the consortium of PT Barata, PT Inpar and PT Wahana with a capacity of 1 x 34.1 megawatt worth Rp 311 billion.

"The contracts were signed in November, and the operations of the three turbines are expected to begin by the end of this month (January)," he said. (godang)