PLN capacity to reach 39,000 MW by year end

State-owned electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) will expand its power capacity by 8.3 percent to 39,000 megawatts by year-end in a bid to meet growing demand, The Jakarta Post reported on Tuesday.

PLN planning and risk management director Murtaqi Syamsuddin said in Jakarta on Monday, the capacity increase would be achieved with the completion of the construction of some power plants built under the first 10,000 megawatt fast track program launched in 2006.

At the moment, the company is also working to expand its power transmission network, including constructing 10 main stations in Java and establishing new transmission lines connecting Meulaboh and Blang-pidie in Aceh, Martapura and Muara Baru in South Kalimantan, Teluk Betung and Sungai Lilin in South Sumatra, and Teluk Kuantan and Rengat in Riau. Each line stretches between 40 and 50 kilometers.

Meanwhile, PLN business division head Benny Marbun stated that electricity consumption nationwide in May 2013 alone reached 16.07 terawatt hours (TWh), rising by 9.96 percent compared to a year earlier.

?In total, the electricity consumption in January-May this year grew by 7.6 percent compared to the same period in 2012? he said in a statement published recently.

Electricity consumption in the business sector also grew, as shown by data from PLN. In May, the growth rate reached 10 percent, while a month before, the rate stood at 9 percent.

With growing consumption, the company expects to book a 9 percent increase in its revenues to Rp 253.6 trillion (US$25.66 billion) this year. (*)