PLN struggles to resolve electricity crisis in Tarakan

By Godang Sitompul

State-owned electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) is working hard in trying to resolve the current electricity shortage in Tarakan, East Kalimantan.

The power crisis emerged after PLN?s local unit operating the Tarakan gas-fired power plant could no longer get gas supply from gas field operated by Medco E&P following expiry of contract, said Vickner Sinaga, PLN?s Director of Operation for the eastern part of Indonesia, to Petromindo.com Thursday. ?The problem is that Medco?s gas supply of 6 mmscfd is now zero (following expiry of contract).?

He said that PLN is currently seeking for new sources of gas supply. The company has recently obtained gas supply from state-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina?s Bunyu field in Bulungan, North Kalimantan, but the supply is not sufficient.

In the meantime, PLN is moving to optimize electricity production from its 5 MW diesel-fired power plant.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak