PLN awaits arrival of MVPP in North Sumatra

Courtesy of Karpowership

A marine vessel power plant (MVPP), with capacity of 240 MW, started sailing from Turkey on Sunday, and is expected to arrive in Medan, North Sumatra Province, within 21 days.

State-owned electricity firm PT PLN said in a statement Thursday that the MVPP, leased from Turkey-based floating power plant maker Karpowership, will increase power supply in the North Sumatra system. ?The presence of the MVPP will increase power supply by as much as 240 MW. Power supply in the North Sumatra system will certainly be secured,? said Amir Rosidin, PLN Business Director for Sumatra Region.

PLN said that installed capacity in the northern part of Sumatra system (Sumbagu) currently averages at 2,100 MW, while peak load at 2,075 MW. With the additional 240 MW power supply from the MVPP, the system will have reserves of around 265 MW.

Amir said that MVPP is a quick solution to increase power supply ahead of the upcoming Islamic Idul Fitri celebrations.

Other efforts made by PLN to strengthen the Sumatra electricity system is by developing the PLTU Pangkalan Susu coal-fired power plant unit 3 and 4, each with capacity of 220 MW. In terms of transmission, PLN said it is currently developing the 275 kV Sumatra Electricity Toll which will connect electricity networks from southern part of Sumatra, central part, until northern part of Sumatra.

The various efforts form part of actions taken not only to strengthen the reliability of power system in Sumatra but also to help meet the country?s electrification ratio of 97.2 percent by 2019, PLN said.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak