PLN to operate another unit of PLTP Ulumbu

State owned electricity firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) will operate another unit of PLTP Ulumbu geothermal power plant in Manggarai regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province as part of the efforts to increase the utilization of clean energy in the area.

PLTP Ulumbu, located in Wewo has four power units with a combined installed capacity of 10 MW or 4x2.5 MW, using as fuel geothermal steam from Pocoleok volcano. Thus far, however, PLN only operates three units. The first unit is fueled with steam produced from a 1,887 m well, the second unit from a 878.6 m well and the third unit from a 945.4 m well.

The fourth unit is scheduled to start operation in March of this year, PLN?s Corporate Secretary Agung Murdifi said in a statement on Thursday, adding once the fourth unit has come into operation, PLN will deactivate all its diesel generators in the area.

"At present, there are three units in operation. In March, all four units of the power plant will be in operation and all diesel generators in the area will be deactivated. Thereby, we shall save our costs as we shall no longer need to buy diesel oil,? Agung said.

The power plant supplies power to Manggarai and parts of Manggarai Timur and Manggarai Barat regencies. Peak load in the area is 4.4 MW in daytime and 8.1 MW at night.

PLTP Ulumbu was inaugurated on Nov. 11, 2011 and started operation in January 2012.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon