PLN plans to build Baliem hydro power next year

State owned utility firm PT PLN plans to start developing hydro power plant in Baliem river or PLTA Baliem, Yahukimo, in West Papua next year, aiming to meet electricity needs of Wamena and the surrounding areas.

?PLN plans to begin developing first phase of PLTA Baliem next year with a capacity of 50 megawatt(MW),? said PLN President Director, Dahlan Iskan. In the second phase, PLN will expand the planned hydro power?s capacity by additional 30 MW.

PLN claims that Baliem river has the potential to support the development of hydro power plant with capacity of up to about 450 MW.

The company expects to invest around Rp 3 trillion in the first year of the project, with total project cost estimated to be between Rp 5 trillion and Rp 6 trillion. For the following years, PLN plans to seek potential investors as partners in the developing the hydro power plants.

PLN expects to complete the power plant project in 2016-2017. PLN also hopes that the project will help stimulate economic activities in the area.

PLN will also build a 70 KV and 20 kV transmission grid to send the electricity from the plant to Wamena and other surrounding regencies. (roffie)