Minister introduces new unit to help accelerate power project
Thursday, January 22 2015 - 02:21 AM WIB
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sudirman Said during a meeting with independent power producers and state-owned electricity firm PT PLN on Tuesday introduced Nur Pamudji and Agung Wicaksono as coordinators of the newly-established National Electricity Development Program Executing Unit, or UP3KN, which will liaise between the IPPs, PLN, and the government to help seek quick solution to obstacles in power sector development.
Nur is a former president director of PLN, while Agung is a former official at the Presidential Working Unit for the Supervision and Management of Development (UKP4).
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said in a statement obtained Thursday that the minister has also stationed its officials at the one-stop licensing unit of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) to help speed up licensing procedure in power sector project.
The statement added that the ministry is currently drafting a presidential regulation to set up a national team, which groups related ministers, to help accelerate the development of 35,000 MW power projects that must be realized over the next five years.
Minister Sudirman has also talked with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to help supervise the 35,000 MW power projects to help ensure that it would not hampered by legal obstacles amid poor enforcement in the country. ?The objective is to allow PLN to be able to work properly and focus on increasing electricity supply,? said Sudirman.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Commission VII on energy and mining during a meeting on Monday has decided to set up a working committee on upstream electricity sector to gather information regarding obstacles in power sector development, the ministry said in a separate statement.
Land acquisition, and lengthy permitting process have been seen as among of the key obstacles in power sector development in the country. The ongoing aggressive campaign against corruption has also discouraged government officials from making quick decision in power projects on fears they could be charged with corruption.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak