NTB has new mini hydropower plant
Monday, January 14 2013 - 02:25 AM WIB
The operation of PLTM Kokok Putih which has capacity of 2x2 megawatt (MW) further increases the number of mini hydropower plants in NTB, which is known as a center of mini hydropower plants in the country.
In addition to PLTM Kokok Putih which is operated by PT Nusantara Indo Energy, there are two other mini hydropower plants in the province which began operation in 2012. The two other plants are PLTMH Sesaot, Lobar (1 MW) and Cakaranegara, Mataram (0.6MW) which are operated by PT Tirta Daya Rinjani.
Before the operation of the three plants, the province had already operated several mini hydropower plants, including PLTMH Pengga (0.3MW) in Centrak Lombok; PLTMH Mamak (0.4 MW) ini Sumbawa; PLTMH Narmada (0.05 MW ) in West Lombok and PLTMH Kukusan (0.2 MW) in East Lombok.
Two other power plants including PLTMH Santong (1.0 MW) in North Lombok and PLTM Segara 1 & 2 (7.5 MW) in North Lombok are currently under construction and are expected to begin operation this year.
Six more hydropower plants are in process of obtaining licenses. They include PLTM Bintang Bano (8.8 MW) in Sumbawa; PLTM Sedau (1.3 MW) in Lombok Barat, PLTM Brangrea (6.4 MW ) in Sumbawa, PLTM Koko Babak (2.3 MW) in Central Lombok, PLTM Sambelia (3 MW) in Easti Lombok and PLTA Brang Beh (18 MW) in Sumbawa.
Vickner Sinaga said that the development of the hydropower plants is aimed at cutting the use of diesel fuel, which is very expensive. The price of diesel fuel is now at Rp 9,000 per liter, while its transportation cost is Rp 120.95 per liter.
?Generating power from diesel fuel power plants costs PLN around Rp 3,200 per kilowatt hour (KWH). Currently, the use of diesel fuels in NTB is around 96 percent of the total PLN energy mix in the area,? he said when addressing the ceremony to inaugurate the mini hydropower plants.
Editing by Benget Besalicto Tnb.