Minister says 35,000 MW program could not be realized in 2019
Thursday, July 20 2017 - 01:59 AM WIB
Petromindo|Thomas
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ignasius Jonan said that the government?s five-year program to develop a combined 35,000 MW power plants could not be realized by 2019 as initially targeted.
He said on Wednesday that only around 20,000 MW of power plant projects are expected to be completed in 2019/2020.
He said that it will take another five years to complete the entire 35,000 MW program, or in 2024.
Some government officials and industry players have previously warned that the 35,000 MW program could not be completed as targeted by 2019 due to various obstacles from land acquisition problem to funding difficulties.
The government of President Joko Widodo has set the ambitious 35,000 MW program in a bid to help increase electricity supply in the Southeast Asia?s largest economy to help attract fresh investment.
Jonan, however, said that development of power plants is not the only major issue. Another important issue, he said, is the people?s capacity in purchasing electricity particularly in less-developed regions in the eastern part of Indonesia. (*)