MVPP to strengthen Sumbagut power system

The Marine Vessel Power Plant (MVPP) Onur Sultan which is leased from Turkey-based floating power plant maker Karpowership, arrived in Belawan, North Sumatra, on Friday. The MVPP with a total generation capacity of 240 MW will help PT PLN to strengthen the power system in northern part of Sumatra (Sumbagut).

The MVPP Onur Sultan, having a length of 300 meter and width 50 meter, has diesel-fuel power machine (PLTD) made by Wartsila at the capacity of 18.81 MW per unit with a total of 24 units, and coal-fired power machines at the capacity of 2x15 MW.

PLN?s Sumatera Regional Business Director Amir Rosidin said in a press release on Sunday that the MVPP has several advantages. One of the advantages is that it can be operated in dual fuels, namely with oil fuels (BBM) the type of Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) and gas (BBG).

Other advantages include that the MVPP, which will be leased by PLN for the next five years, does not need land site for development, mobile and fast relocation, flexible and efficient in using energy sources, relatively low rate of waste, and relatively low level of noisy rage for surrounding people.

"This MVPP is a fast solution to meet the need of power, especially ahead of the upcoming Islamic Idul Fitri celebrations, while waiting for the development of permanent power plants. With additional capacity of 240 MW, it will improve the reliability of power system in Sumbagut. Its capacity can be also increased up to 480 MW," said Amir.

He said that the MVPP is scheduled to be synchronized with the Sumbagut power system on Thursday, June 1, and scheduled to start commercial operation date (COD) on the second week of June 2017.

According to him, the additional capacity of 240 MW from the MVPP will raise the capacity of Sumbagut power system to 2,287 MW, with peak load at 2,075 MW. That means Sumbagut system will have a power reserve of around 212 MW.

Other efforts made by PLN to strengthen the Sumatra electricity system is by developing the PLTU Pangkalan Susu coal-fired power plant unit 3 and 4, each with capacity of 220 MW. In terms of transmission, PLN said it is currently developing the 275 kV Sumatra Electricity Toll which will connect electricity networks from southern part of Sumatra, central part, until northern part of Sumatra.

The various efforts form part of actions taken not only to strengthen the reliability of power system in Sumatra but also to help meet the country?s electrification ratio of 97.2 percent by 2019, PLN said.

Editing by Benget Besalicto ST