PLN seeks ways to minimize impact of reclamation program

State-owned electricity firm PT PLN has demanded the contractor assigned to develop G Island, which is one of the artificial islands to be developed under the government?s reclamation program in the Jakarta Bay, to develop an extra water pipeline to avoid impact on the utility company?s 508 MW PLTGU Muara Karang combined-cycle power plant in North Jakarta, Bisnis Indonesia reported on Wednesday.

The paper quoted PLN Spokesman I Made Suprateka as saying that the reclamation of the G Island will increase the temperature of the sea water used by the PLTGU for cooling system of its turbine to 31 degrees Celsius from 29 degrees Celsius, which in turn will undermine the PLTGU?s fuel consumption efficiency. He said that an increase of 10 degrees Celsius in the temperature of the water will reduce the PLTGU?s power production by 10 MW.

Suprateka said that at a recent meeting with the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs, the contractor of the G Island, PT Muara Wisesa has been requested to develop the required additional water pipeline before resuming with the reclamation work.(*)