PLN plans mine mouth power plants in 15 locations

By Nova Farida

In a bid to optimize the use of coal resources as fuel for power plants, state-owned electricity firm PT PLN in its latest 2017-2026 procurement electricity business plan (or RUPTL) envisages the development of mine mouth power plants in 15 locations.

?There will be nine in Sumatra, and six in Kalimantan. Total capacity is 7,300 MW,? said PLN Director of Corporate Planning Nicke Widyawati said on Monday.

She said that the new RUPTL also envisages the development of gas-fired power plants in the country, most of which to use LNG.

Nicke said that the planned development of new power plants by PLN is to support economic growth rate of 8.3 percent per year over the next 10 years.

In the period of 2017-2019, PLN will focus on completing various power plant projects. In line with the National Energy General Policy (or RUEN) and RUPTL, electrification ratio in the country is targeted to 100 percent by 2024.

Nicke said that PLN is required to build 78,000 MW of power plants including the 35,000 MW program.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak