Minister: Only half of 35,000 MW program will be realized in 2019
Thursday, October 27 2016 - 08:10 AM WIB
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ignasius Jonan estimated that only about half of the five-year 35,000 MW power plants development program to be realized by the 2019 deadline.
The recently-installed minister said on Thursday that he was asked by President Joko Widodo about progress of the 35,000 MW power plant development program. ?On the safe side, about half,? he said.
Jonan said that if 18,000 power plants can be completed by 2019, it?s already a good achievement.
Jonan also urged state-owned electricity firm PT PLN to be focused more on developing power transmission lines, where private investors are not interested.
He said that power plant development should be given to private investors. Power plant projects which fail to gain interest from the private sectors be given to state-owned enterprises and PLN. He added that the use of state budget for power plant development should be the last option.
Jonan made the statement in response to plan by PLN to enter geothermal exploration activity.
Elsewhere, Jonan also proposed for PLN to lead in the development of off-grid power plants such as solar or hydro for eastern part of Indonesia to help speed up electrification in the region. ?I hope PLN can be leading in this area, if not just (invite) the private sector,? he said, speaking at gathering with the Indonesian Electricity Society.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak