PLTP Karaha Bodas 2 & 3 to start operation in 2015-2016

By Hisky Darmayana

PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) said it had targeted that geothermal power plants (PLTP) Karaha Bodas Unit 2 and 3 with generation capacity of 2 x 55 Megawatt (MW) in Garut regency of West Java province would start operation in 2015 and 2016.

While the local administration is still waiting for a development proposal of the project from its developer PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE), funding for the development has been secured in the form of a grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Land clearing has yet to be implemented.

?Because of all that, its exploration activities cannot yet be started, but it has secured the grant from ADB for the development,? Senior Manager of Geothermal Energy at PLN New and Renewable Energy, Anang Yahmadi said in Jakarta on Friday. He did not elaborate the amount of grant awarded by ADB.

He said that PLN and PGE had agreed on the power price at 8.25 US cents per kilowatt hour (KWH).

According to him, PLTP Karaha Bodas unit 1 is now under development and is expected to start operation in 2013 or 2014. Once in operation, it will get into the Java-Bali-Madura power grid system.

Editing by Benget Besalicto Tnb.