PLN forced to use fuel oil as supply from BP West Java drops

State electricity firm PLN was forced to use fuel oil in its combined cycle power plants in Jakarta as gas supply from BP West Java dropped, PLN?s Muljo Adji said on Monday as quoted by Kompas.

He said that gas supply from BP-operated ONWJ block to Tanjung Priok 1,100-MW power plant had not returned back to normal after one gas compressor in the block was broken. One turbine in Tanjung Priok must be operated by using fuel oil.

Gas supply from BP West Java is currently 132 MMCFD out of contracted volume of 265 MMCFD, he said. ONWJ West Java was only able to supply 83-87 percent of the contracted volume since November 2005 tie-in, he said.

PLN was also forced to shut down six turbines in Tanjung Priok and Muara Karang plants last Saturday after a drastic drop in gas supply. PLN was forced to spend extra Rp.13.8 billion (US$1.5 million) per day on fuel oil due to gas shortage, he said. (*)