PLTA Sulewana hydropower plant ready for operation

Three turbines, each with a capacity of 65 megawatt, of PLTA Sulewana hydropower plant at Tentena in Central Sulawesi will begin full operation in October this year, Kompas reported on Monday.

?A trial operation will be carried out in June. In August the first turbine will be operated followed by the second and third turbines in October,? former Indonesian Vice President Yusuf Kalla said during his visit at the hydropower plant complex.

Kalla visited the power plant in his capacity as Chairman of the Bukaka Group, the parent company of PT Poso Energy which built and is operator of the power plant.

Kalla said that with the full operation of the Sulewana power plant, the demand for electricity in Central Sulawesi could be met. The new power plant would even be able to meet demand for industrial activities in the province until 2014, he added.

?So, there will be no more reasons for investors to not enter the province,? he said, adding that investors previously were reluctant to do business in Central Sulawesi due to the lack of electricity supply.

Kalla said that the construction of the three turbines at the PLTA Sulewana was part of Bukaka Group?s Poso 1 project. After the operation of the new power plant, the business would embark on the Poso 2 project, Kalla added. (*)