PJB conducts research to use seaweed in power plants

By Cepi Setiadi

PT Pembangkitan Jawa Bali (PJB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of state owned electricity company PT PLN, is currently conducting research to develop power plants using seaweed as source of energy.

Acting President Director of PJB, Muljo Adji told Petromindo.com recently the company is teaming up with Diponegoro University (Undip) in the project.

"Since we are not competent in managing the seaweed that?s why we make a cooperation with Undip," he said.

Muljo explained that that technically, power plant with a capacity of up to 100 MW could be built using seaweed as source of energy.

"But for the first trial, as we have no experience in this power plant, we will try with capacity of 1 MW to 10 MW," he said.

Muljo revealed that the planned power plants will be located in eastern part of Indonesia. He chose the eastern part of Indonesia as there are a lot of seaweed farmers in the region. ?We will try to empower them," he said, withaout elaborating the exact location.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak