PLTU Ropa power plant to begin operation in March

State owned electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) will begin the operation of PLTU Ropa coal-fired power plant, which is now under construction in Ende regency, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, in March this year, Investor Daily reported on Tuesday.

PLN?s Director for Construction Nasri Sabayang said in Kupang on Monday that a trial operation of the new power plant which would have 2 x 14.5 megawatt (MW) was currently under preparation.

?We will soon begin the trial operation of PLTU Ropa. A coal supply for the power plant has also arrived at the location,? he added.

Last year, two new geothermal power plants including PLTU Ulumbu and PLTP Mataloko began commercial operations to cope with the shortage of power supply in East Nusa Tenggara province.

PLTMH Ndungga mini-hydropower plant is also expected to begin operation this year to further boost the power supply in the province.

PLN said that the company was also building interconnection facilities connecting several districts in the province including Ruteng, Labuan Bajo, Ende, Bajawa and Maumere to expand the electricity distribution networks. (*)