Panaran power plant begins operations on trial basis amid gas problem

State-owned electricity firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) has began operating its Panaran gas-fired power plant in Batam on trial basis amid gas supply problem, the Harian Ekonomi Neraca daily reported in its Tuesday edition.

The 2 x 27.5 Megawatt (MW) Panaran plant has been built to solve power shortage on the industrial island.

?The trial operation began on last Saturday and Sunday. Today (Monday), we will try to generate 27.5 megawatts (MW),? PLN Batam?s supply control system chief Bambang USA told reporters in Batam on Monday.

During the Saturday and Sunday trials, the production reached only 15 MW. During the Monday trial, the plant was expected to reach its full capacity.

PLN Batam?s head Eri Ifyandri said that the available gas stock was just enough for the trials and it was not clear when the gas supply would be available for the full operation of the plant.

Panaran plant?s construction was completed in August 2004 and it is scheduled to start operation in September with its gas needs expected to come from the gas fields owned by American energy firm ConocoPhilips, to be delivered by PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN.

Eri earlier said that PLN was still waiting for the approval from upstream authority BP Migas of the purchase and sales agreement between PGN and ConocoPhillips. (*)