PLN to hold talks this month with Belgium, ADB on power project funding

State electricity firm PT PLN said on Monday it will hold separate talks this month with the Belgian government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) about the funding of a number of power projects.

Negotiations with the Belgian government will be held on Nov 18, while talks with ADB will take place on Nov 11, PLN president director Eddie Widiono said in a hearing with Commission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR) in charge of energy and mineral resources.

Widiono said the Belgian government had expressed interest to cooperate with PLN to build diesel fuel power plants in eight locations. He did not mention the amount of funds the Belgian government might agree to provide for the projects which will be located in West Kalimantan, North Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Papua, East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara.

Meanwhile, negotiations with the ADB would center on the US$305 million planned by the bank for renewable energy development projects and projects for improving 150-Volt power transmission systems. The transmission projects will be located in Java, East Kalimantan and South Kalimantan, Eddie said. But, he did not mention the locations of the renewable energy development projects.

The $305 million is part of the $804 million of loan package for PLN, which is expected from overseas lenders, Eddie said. (godang)