Ministry drafting regulation to help PLN in land acquisition works

Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry is drafting a regulation that will assign state utility firm PT. Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) to carry out land acquisition for electricity projects on behalf of the government.

The Ministry's Director General of Electricity Jarman said in a media statement on Monday that the regulation is expected to take effect early next year and speed up the development of electricity sector in the country.

"We are still drafting it, we expect to finalize and enact it at the end of year," said Jarman.

Jarman added that with the new regulation, PLN will no longer act as a corporation when acquiring lands for strategic power projects, be it the development of power plants or power lines, but rather as a government representative.

The regulation will also assign a task force to support PLN in land acquisition works. The task force will group together officials from the Forestry Ministry, Domestic Affairs Ministry, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, and other relevant institutions.

Editing by Dadan Wijaksana