PLN operates eight gas-fired mobile power plants

State-owned electricity PT PLN has successfully operated eight gas-fired mobile power plants (PLTG/MPP) with combined capacity of 500 MW in remote regions, which have suffered from power deficit.

PLN said in a statement on Monday that it has assigned its subsidiary PT Bright PLN Batam to develop the eight MPPs, which are part of the government?s five-year program to build a combined 35,000 MW power plants.

The eight MPPs, which are completed from July 2016 until December, include MPP Jeranjang ? Lombok (2 x25 MW), which started operation July 27; MPP Air Anyir ? Bangka (2 x 25 MW), started operation September 13; MPP Tarahan ? Lampung (4 x 25 MW), started operation September 29; MPP Nias (1 x 25 MW), started operation on October 31; MPP Pontianak (4 x 25 MW), started operation November 8; MPP Balai Pungut ? Riau (3 x 25 MW), started operation November 13; MPP Suge ? Belitung (1 x 25 MW), started operation November 22; and Paya Pasir Medan (3 x 25 MW), which started operation on December 9 for unit #1, December 13 for unit #2, and unit #3 on December 16.

PLN Batam assigned PT GE Operation Indonesia as the main contractor for the construction of the combined Rp 8 trillion projects, and IDX-listed engineering and construction firm PT PP Perumahan Tbk as sub-contractor.

Business Director for Sumatra Region at PLN, Amir Rosidin said in a statement that on average, the MPP construction took about six months to complete.

He said that the MPP is the best solution to build increase electricity in remote power deficit regions quickly.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak