PLN to build 230 MW-power plants for Antam

State owned electricity company PT Perusahaan listrik Negara (PLN) will build and operate two power plants with total costs of about US$350 million to provide electricity supply for new ferronickel processing plant belonging to state-owned mining company PT Aneka Tambang in Halmahera, North Maluku.

PLN?s Director for Planning and Risk Management, Murtaqi Syamsuddin, said in Jakarta on Tuesday that the power plants would comprise a coal-fired power plant with a capacity of 2 x 35 MW and a diesel power plant with a capacity of 7 x 18 MW.

?The total capacity is 230 MW and all are worth $350 million,? he was quoted as saying by Investor Daily.

Murtaqi said that PLN would complete the construction of the power plants within one year. The power production would be then supplied to Antam, he added.

Antam would use the power supply from the two power plants to support the company?s ferronickel processing plant in Halmahera Timur.

Under Antam's masterplan for the ferronickel processing plant facility, the total cost of the whole project reached $1.6 billion. The costs include $600 million needed for power plants and supporting facilities. The power plants will be built in cooperation with PT PLN.

The ferronickel processing project, known as FeNi Haltim, was kicked off in November, 2011. The plant, which will be operated by Antam?s subsidiary PT Feni Haltim, is scheduled for commercial operation by 2014, with total capacity of 27,000 tons. (*)