PLN to boost capacity of geothermal power plants in NTT

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) has officially assigned state-owned electricity firm PT PLN to boost the capacity of the Ulumbu and Mataloko geothermal power plants in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province.

PLN said in a statement Wednesday that the ministerial decree on the assignment was handed over by Minister ArcandraTahar to the company on Monday at the 4th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention and Exhibition 2016.

The direct appointment of PLN in the expansion of the two geothermal power plant projects is part of the government?s efforts to achieve a target for the country to have a combined geothermal capacity of 7,000 MW by 2025, compared to existing capacity of 1,400 MW.

PLN President Director SofyanBasir said his company is determined to accelerate the expansion of the two geothermal power plants, which have been supplying electricity to the NTT power system.

Sofyan said that the PLN plans to expand the capacity of the Ulumbu geothermal power plant to 50 MW from the current 10 MW, and for Mataloko plant to 22.5 MW from the current 2.5 MW. The expansion projects are expected to be completed in 2020.

Elsewhere, the PLN statement said that during the geothermal convention event, the company signed amendment of a number of electricity sale contract (ESC) including with Star Energy for the PLTP WayangWindu 1 and 2 geothermal power plants; with PGE for the PLTP Lahendong 5 and 6; and with SEML for the PLTP Muaralaboh 1 and 2.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak