PLTP Sarulla development to start in 2013

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik said that the geothermal power plant Sarulla in Tarutung regency, North Sumatra, will be started to be developed in 2013.

"A joint letter of ministries concerned will be signed this year, so that the Sarulla development can be started next year,? the minister said after inaugurating the biomass-based steam power plant in Medan on Monday.

He noted that the Sarulla development was part of the government?s efforts to optimize the use of geothermal energy for power generation. ?It is especially important, as our second stage of crash program to generate 10,000 MW will prioritize the development of geothermal power plants,? he said.

?If the first stage of the electricity crash program prioritizes the coal, then the second stage will prioritize the geothermal energy,? he added.

Currently, the tariff for geothermal is ruled in the energy and mineral resources ministry?s regulation No. 2/2011 on the assignment to the state utility PT PLN to purchase electricity from geothermal power plants, and on the tariff of electricity generated from geothermal. Its article 2 rules that the highest tariff for geothermal power plants is 9.7 US cents per kilowatt hour (KWH).

For example, the electricity price of PLTP Tampomas in West Java at 6.6 US cents/kWh, PLTP Tangkuban Perahu 5.9 US cents/kWh, and PLTP Ungaran at 8.09 US cents/kWh.

But for outside Java, such as PLTP Jailolo in North Maluku it was decided at 19 US cents/kWh, and PLTP Jaboi in Aceh at 18,9 Us cents/kWh.

Until June 2012, electricity generated from geothermal power plants has amounted to 1.226 MW, as compared to Indonesia?s geothermal potential at 29.000 MW.

Editing by Benget Besalicto Tnb.