PLN will need 65 MT of coal next year

State electricity firm PT Perusahaan Listrk Negara (PLN) said it would need around 65 million tonnes of coal for next year, up by 18 million tonnes compared to this year?s revised consumption target of 47-48 million tonnes.

?The figure is the total coal demand from both PLN and IPPs,? PLN?s energy primer director Nur Pamudji said.

The coal consumption this year has been projected to reach around 50 million tonnes. But PLN estimated the realization for this year would be around 47 to 48 million tonnes, he said.

Nur Pamudji said that the consumption of coal is projected to increase next year as the whole projects under the Phase One 10,000 MW power development program will become operational.

The power plant, which will start operation including PLTU Suralaya in Banten with 1x600 MW capacity, after a trial operation last May. The power plant has used coal since commissioning stage. The two units of PLTU Indramayu (in West Java) have started operation since early this year. The two units of PLTU Rembang power plant have also started operation. The Unit 1 of PLTU Lontar power plant in Banten has started operation with COD (Commercial Operation Date) also in May this year.

The Unit 1 of PLTU Pacitan power plant in East Java would also start this year, while the Unit 2 would start by early next year.

Besides, there would be a significant addition of private electricity operations by IPP (Independent Power Producers), such as the 600 MW electricity power plant in Cirebon, West Java, which would start operation by October 2011. This power plant would need at least, 2.2 million tonnes of coal per year. (bernard)