PLN to complete 800-km transmission line in Sumatra this year

By Cepi Setiadi

State-owned electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) aims to compete an 800-km transmission project in Sumatera this year.

Amir Rosidin, PLN?s director for Sumatra region, told Petromindo.com recently that this project is part of a total 4,000-km of 275 KV transmission line project in Sumatera, which will link Tarahan in Lampung Province to Banda Aceh in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Province.

?Currently we are developing about 800 kilometers of 275 KV transmission line and is expected to complete by the year?s end,? he said, adding that the project links Kiliranjau and Payakumbuh in West Sumatera, and Padang Sidempuan and Sarulla in North Sumatera.

Amir revealed that currently around 1,200 km of 150 KV transmission line has been operated. ?But we will replace it with the 275 KV, hence we expect that this year we will be able to operate 275 KV transmission line with the total of 2,000 km. Meanwhile the remaining 2000 km is expected to complete by 2018,? he said.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak