Off grid power plant project does not need to be included in RUPTL

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ignasius Jonan said that off grid power plant projects with capacity of less than 50 MW do not need to be included in the electricity procurement business plan (RUPTL) of state-owned electricity firm PT PLN.

Jonan said on Sunday that small-capacity off grid power plants form part of efforts to supply electricity in some 2,500 remote villages.

He said that in line with Ministerial Regulation No 38/2016 on the acceleration of electrification in remote and less developed regions, border areas, and small islands, the local governments has been given authority to appoint private firms in develop small capacity power plants. ?The government has also given opportunity to PLN to develop power plants in villages with capacity of less than 50 MW with off grid system and does not need to be included in the RUPTL,? he said.

The government is seeking to increase the country?s electrification ratio to more than 96 percent by 2019 from around 93 percent currently including through the electrification of the 2,500 villages. (*)