PLN to buy electricity from Malaysia

State owned utility firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) has signed an agreement to buy electricity from Sarawak, Malaysia, to help supply electricity needs in West Kalimantan.

President Director Nur Pamudji in Pontianak said after signing the deal in Serawak that the purchase will be made over five years, until PLN completed the development of three power plants.

?We plan to do the purchase between 2014 and 2019,? Nur said as reported by The Jakarta Globe. ?This is also to accelerate electricity procurement in West Kalimantan. Up to now only border areas can enjoy electricity purchased from Sarawak,? Nur said.

Under the deal, PLN will purchase between 50 and 70 MW of power from Sarawak. The power will be distributed to Pontianak, Singkawang and surrounding areas as well as for smelters in West Kalimantan.

PLN is currently building three new power plants in the province, including two in Bengkayang. Once completed the company has agreed to sell 600 megawatts of power to Serawak, the Malaysian part of the island. ?We do exports after we?re able to meet domestic needs,? he said.(*)