New power plant to be built in East Kutai, Kalimantan

A new steam power plant, with a capacity of 14 megawatt, will be built soon in East Kutai regency, East Kalimantan, to cope with the power supply shortage in the regency, Kaltim Post reported on Friday.

The coal-fired power plant will be built by PT Graha Prima Karya, in cooperation with PT Kutai Timur Investama. The power plant will take advantage of the massive coal deposits in the regency.

Graha Prima's president director Ari Setiadi said that the company was given five months to complete all the necessary permits for the construction of the power plant. "All the permits had been obtained, except the one from the director general of electricity and energy use," he said.

According to him, the company would spend about US$18 million to build the power plant, which will use Chinese technology in its engineering and power generating. Major components of the plant including its power generator will be imported from China. (*)