PLN targets development of 6,300 MW hydropower plant in 10 years

State owned electricity firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) targets the development of 6,300 MW of new hydropower plants across the country by the firm and private companies.

This was said by PLN?s President Director Nur Pamudji in his speech read out by PLN?s Director of Construction and New Renewable Energy during a workshop in Jakarta on Thursday.

The workshop titled ?the Development and Management of Dams for the Purpose of Water Security? also featured Minister of Public Works and Housing Basuki Hadimuljono who explained about the government?s plan to build 49 new dams across the country, PLN said in a statement on Thursday.

Pamudji said based on Hydropwer Potential Study, Indonesia has 75,000 MW of hydropower potentials. Of the total, 25,600 MW is feasible for development.

However 5,000 MW of the potentials have been developed.

Since 2011, the government and PLN have formulated ?Masterplan for Hydropower? which recommends the development of hydrpower plants with total capacity of 12,900 MW in 87 locations through 2017. The projects are considered feasible technically and economically and sound environmentally.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon