PLN signs PPA with seven small hydropower developers

State owned electricity firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) announced on Tuesday the signing of Power Purchasing Agreement (PPA) with seven mini hydropower station developers in West Java and Banten provinces.

?The signing of the PPAs demonstrates PLN?s enthusiasm and commitment to utilizing and developing new and renewable energies,? PLN?s General Manager for West Java Region Iwan Purwana said during the signing ceremony in Bandung, the capital of West Java.

The seven firms are as follows:
1. PT Tirta Mukti Lestari (PLTM Cibuni, 32 MW),
2. PT Lima Energi Lestari (PLTM Pesantren 1, 1.8 MW),
3. PT Petro Hidro Optima (PLTM Cikaengan, 5.1 MW),
4. PT Cikaengan Tirta Energi (PLTM Cikaengan 2, 7.2 MW),
5. PT Manha Daya Mandiri (PLTM Cibuni Mandiri, 2 MW),
6. PT Republika Mandiri Energi (PLTM Cikandang, 6 MW)
7. PT Bangun Bumi Bersatu (PLTM Cibareno 1.5 MW)

The mini hydropower station projects will be completed within 54 months.

Bumi Bangun Persada?s President Director Sudjana appreciated PLN?s willingness to sign the PPAs. ?We shall accelerate the development so that PLN can buy the power earlier than schedule,? he said.

As of 2016, PLN?s West Java office has been cooperating with a total of 15 new and renewable energy developers -- 14 of them planning to build mini hydropower stations and one planning to build a landfill gas power station -- with a combined capacity of 39.3 MW. Once all the projects have been completed, West Java?s electrification ratio is expected to increase from 94 percent as of December 2015.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon