President expected to inaugurate PLTP Lahendong unit 5, 6, Ulubelu unit 3

By Godang Sitompul

ESDM

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has proposed for President Joko Widodo to inaugurate the PLTP Lahendong geothermal power plant unit 5 and 6, with combined 2x20 MW, and PLTP Ulubelu unit 3 with capacity of 55 MW in December.

Director of geothermal at the ministry?s Directorate General of New and Renewable Energy, Yunus Saefulhak told Petromindo.com on Monday that the inauguration ceremony of the PLTP Lahendong unit 5 and 6 is expected to take place during the president?s visit to Manado, North Sulawesi on December 28 for Christmas celebration.

?The Directorate General of New and Renewable Energy has appealed via the minister (Ignasius Jonan) for the president to be able to officiate the PLTP Lahendong project in North Sulawesi, and Ulubelu in Lampung,? Yunus said.

The PLTP Lahendong unit 5 has started operation recently, while the unit 6 expected in December. Once the unit 6 starts operation, the total power supply capacity from the PLTP Lahendong power plant will reach 120 MW. In addition, another 55 MW from PLTP Ulubelu unit 3 (55MW) and PLTP Sarulla unit 1 (110 MW) will enter the PLN system.

Yunus said that the ministry is preparing a number of geothermal power plant projects with combined capacity of 250 MW that are expected to start commercial operation in 2017. These include PLTP Karaha Bodas (30 MW), PLTP Sarulla unit 2 (110 MW), PLTP Lumut Balai (55 MW), and PLTP Ulubelu unit 4 (55 MW).

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak