Medco Power to build 17 mini hydropower plants

PT Medco Power Indonesia (MPI) plans to build at least 17 mini hydropower plants with combined capacity of 140 megawatt (MW) in West Java and South Sulawesi up until 2016, Kontan reported on Monday.

MPI, a joint venture between PT Medco Energi Internasional and PT Saratoga Power, would spend up to US$140 million to build the mini hydropower plants. ?The mini hydropower plants will have maximum capacity of 9 MW each,? MPI?s President Director Fazil E. Alfitri said.

In the first stage, MPI would build three mini hydropower plants, with capacity of 3 x 3 MW each, Fazil said, adding that one would be built in West Java and the other two in Bankong and Baliase in South Sulawesi.

?We have signed power purchase agreements with state electricity company PLN,? he said, adding that MPI which would operate the power plants as an independent power producer will sell the electricity to PLN under a long-term contract.

In addition MPI, several other companies such as PT Supraco Mitra Energie will also develop mini hydropower plants in the country. Supraco will spend about 11 million euro to build a mini hydropower plants in West Sumatra with capacity of 6.45 MW.(*)