PLN will test Panaran power plant unit

State electricity firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN)?s Batam branch will soon conduct a loading test on the Unit IV of its gas-fired Panaran power plant on the industrial island, the Bisnis Indonesia newspaper reported in its Tuesday edition.

The main aim of the test is to know the machine?s performance before PLN operates it on a commercial basis.

?We are planning to test in the second week of this month, while in fact the machine is ready for operation,? PLN Batam?s divisional manger for systems and distribution Syah Darwin S. said over the weekend.

The loading test will be conducted on the power unit up to 100 percent of its capacity or 27.5 MW (megawatts). If this test is successful, there will be a reability test for 4x24-hour period. After these tests, if there is no problem in the machine, the PLN will start operating the plant on commercial basis.

Once the power unit starts commercial operation, PLN will operate a total of four gas-fired power units on the island each with the capacity of 27.5 MW.

PLN needs 6.3 million British thermal unit (MMBTU) of gas per day to run one power unit. (*)