PLN signs MoU with Pelindo II for power supply in Bengkulu

State-owned electricity firm PT PLN signed on Tuesday a MoU with state-owned port management company PT Pelindo II for the gradual supply of up to 12.5 MVA of electricity to the latter?s operations in Bengkulu Province starting 2018 through 2020.

PLN said in a statement obtained late Wednesday that under the agreement, the utility firm will first supply 6.5 MVA of electricity next year, and increases by 1 MVA in the following year, and by another 5 MVA in 2020 in line with the business expansion of Pelindo II Bengkulu branch.

PLN Business Director for Sumatra Region, Wiluyo Kusdwiharto said in the statement that power supply reliability in Bengkulu will further improve when the 150 kV transmission line linking Curup and Pulau Baai, totaling 90 km circuit, is completed and starts operation at the end of this year.

Elsewhere, the statement said that power supply reliability in Sumatra region will further improve when a new 275-km transmission line is completed. New transmission line linking Payakumbuh-Padang Sidempuan is expected to start operation at the end of December 2017, while transmission line linking Padang Sidempuan - Sarulla ? Simangkuk ? Galang will start operation in May 2018.

PLN is targeted to develop a total of 18.7 km transmission lines in Sumatra under a government five-year program through 2019, and 10,000 MW of new power plants.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak