PLN starts operation of first unit of MPP in Lombok

State-owned electricity firm PT PLN announced Sunday it has started operating the first unit of the 2x25 MW mobile power plant (MPP) in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province.

PLN said in a statement that the operation follows the completion of engine reliability test. Groundbreaking for the Lombok MPP project, which is part of the government?s 35,000 MW power plant projects, was held in June in a ceremony led by President Joko Widodo.

PLN said that the second unit will also be operated soon after an engine test reliability.

The company said that the operation of the 2x25 MPP will increase electrification ratio in the Lombok system to 78.16 percent by the end of this year from 73.83 percent as per April.

NTB comprises of three power systems including Lombok System, Sumbawa System, and Bima System. The largest is the Lombok System, which has a peak load of around 212 MW, and supply capacity of around 219 MW per June of this year. The operation of the MPP will increase power supply reliability in the Lombok System, PLN said.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak