PLTU Suralaya 8 halts operation after explosion at conveyor belt

The operation of PLTU Suralaya 8 coal fired power plant has been temporarily stopped following an explosion at the plant?s conveyor belt at 9.40 p.m on Wednesday, state electricity company PLN announced on Thursday.

Setio Anggoro Dewo, Finance Director of the state-owned electricity company, said the plant?s shutdown would not affect the power supply for Java and Bali because there would be additional supply from other power plants in other parts of Java.

?We are still investigating the explosion which took place at the conveyor belt,? he said, adding that the conveyor belt was used to convey coal for the power plant, one of several coal-fired power plants located within the Suralaya power plant complex. The Suralaya 8 unit, one of coal-fired power plants built under the first 10,000 megwatt-power plant development program, began commercial operation in April this year.

He said that two workers suffered burn injuries due to the accident and they had been taken to a nearby hospital for a medical treatment. (godang/bernard)