PLN gets additional gas supply for East Indonesia

State electricity company PLN will get additional supply for the company?s power plants in eastern parts of the country, Kontan daily reported on Friday. With the additional gas supply, all power plants in the eastern parts of the country are expected to be able to use gas by 2014

The head of PLN?s division for fuel and gas Suryadi Mardjoeki said in Jakarta on Thursday that the company would get additional gas supply of 15 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) from the Sengkang gas block which is operated by PT Energy Equity Epic Sengkang Pty Ltd (EEES).

Meanwhile, Vickner Sinaga, the Director for Operation of PLN, said that with the additional gas supply, PLN will be able to increase the capacity of PLTGU Sengkang combined cycle power plant by 60 megawatt (MW).

At present, the PLTGU Sengkang power plant has a capacity of 195 MW. The capacity will be increased by 60 MW in September. ?The additional capacity will be used as a reserve if there is a problem with the power supply from other plants,? Vickner said. Next year, he said, the capacity will be increased by another 60 MW.

In addition, PLN will also receive additional gas supply from the Walanga, Sami Sampi, Bonge (Wasambo) block which is also operated by EEES. Upstream oil regulator BPMIGAS has approved the development of the gas block and the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the area. The project is expected to be completed between 2013 and 2014.

?Gas from the block will be used to replace diesel power plants in eastern Indonesia,? he said, adding that PLN would also receive gas supply from the Donggi Senoro LNG plant which is expected to begin commercial operation in 2014. (*)