Power interconnection in Sumatra scheduled for 2003

The interconnection of power networks in southern part of Sumatra, West Sumatra and Jambi is expected to be completed by 2003 in a bid to solve the acute shortage of electricity in some parts of the region, Kompas daily reported on Tuesday.

The transmission network with a capacity of 150 KV, which will connect the power grid in West Sumatra and several areas in Jambi including Muarabungo, Bangko, Lubuklinggau, Lahat and Muarabungo is now under construction. The project is expected to be completed before the end of this year.

Jambi governor Zulkifli Nurdin said in Jambi on Monday that he had personally asked the management of the state electricity company to be able to work on schedule so that the power interconnection in the region could be completed by 2003.

The governor hoped that the interconnection of the power grid would speed up the realization of power projects in the province. He said the local administration, the state owned electricity company PLN, a local investor and Stat Kraf of Norway signed in 1991 a memorandum of understanding (MOU) agreement for the construction of hydro power plant Kerinci Tirta Energi.

Mas?s ud, the head of the power project for southern Sumatra, West Sumatra and Riau, said that the power interconnection was needed to anticipate the operation of new power plants in the region.

?The interconnection project should have been completed in 2000. But it was delayed due to a problem in the construction of power grid in the area, including a power grid linking West Sumatra and Jambi especially on the 11 kilometer- Ombilin ? Kiliranjao grid and at the Bangko ? Lubuklinggau network between Jambi and South Sumatra,? he added.

The delay occurred because residents in areas where the Ombilin-Kiliranjao network is built demanded additional compensation payment of about RP 2 billion, he said. (*)