PLN supports Papua?s plan to build hydropower plant

Papua provincial administration?s plan to build the Urumuka hydropower plant near Timika has received a strong support from state electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), which has romised any assistance to ensure the plan can be materialized.

?We are very happy to hear that Papua will build a hydropower plant. We fully support the plan,? PLN's president director Dahlan Iskan said in a press statement . He promised to provide any assistance that would be needed by the local government to materialize the plan.

Dahlan said that he had received a report that the provincial government-owned PT Papua Power Indonesia would build a hydropower plant in Urumuka river in cooperation with state construction company PT Indra Karya to cope with the shortage of power supply in the province.

He suggested, however, PT Papua Power and PT Indra Karya to cooperate with another company which has a good track record in providing electricity supply. Dahlan also suggested the two companies build a power grid which would link the hydropower plant to the existing power distribution network in Papua.

According the initial plan, the hydropower plant will provide electricity to five newly established regencies in Papua. The power plant will also provide electricity supply to copper mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia which is also located in Timika.

The press statement said the power plant will have a power generation capacity of 300 Megawatt (MW).

Last month, Dahlan said the project was offered by Coordinating Minister of the Economy Hatta Radjasa to the visiting US trade delegation led by Commerce Secretary Garry Locke. He then said the power plant has a capacity of 350 MW. (godang)