PLN records 11% production increase in H1

State electricity firm PT PLN (Persero) announced on Thursday that it had produced 83.3 terrawatthour (twh) of electricity during the first half of 2010 or 11 percent higher than last year?s same period.

Director Nur Pamudji told reporters that the electricity produced was higher that budgeted production of 81 twh or 7 percent growth.

He said that the 11 percent growth in electricity production was driven by accelerated economic growth.

Pamudji said that during the first half of the year, PLN consumed 4.7 million kiloliters of fuel oil ( 3.5 million kl HSD and 1.2 million kls MFO) or far higher than budgeted consumption of 3.4 million kls, while coal consumption stood at 11.8 million tonnes, or lower than budgeted consumption of 13.9 million tonnes. He said that lower than budgeted coal consumption was due to start-up delay of several new power plants such as Indramayu 3x300MW in West Java, Rembang 2x300MW in Central Java and Suralaya 1x600MW in Banten which are now targeted to become onstream second half of this year.

PLN also consumed 156BCF of gas during the period, he said.

For the whole 2010, PLN is expected to consume 26 million tonnes of coal, and 9 million kls of fuel oil, he said with production is expected at 153 twh. (bernard/godang)