President inaugurates three new power plants in Central Sulawesi

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono inaugurated Wednesday three new power plants worth about Rp 318 billion in Central Sulawesi.

 

The operation of the three power plants -- the coal-fired power plant PLTU Tawaeli (2X15 MW), two micro-hydro power plants PLTM Kalumpang (1 x 1000 kW) and PLTM Hanga-hanga (2 x 1000 kW) --  is part of the government's fast-track program to provide an additional power supply of about 10,000 MW in three years until 2009.

 

The PLTU Tawaeli with a capacity of 2 x 15 MW was built at a total cost of about Rp 311 billion, while the two micro-hydro power plants were built with a total investment of about Rp 27 billion.

 

PLTU Tawaeli is owned by PT Pusaka Jaya Palu Power. "The construction of PLTU Tawaeli started in December 2004. The first unit has been in commercial operation since Febuari this year, while the second unit is expected to start commercial operation in Juli this year," state owned electricity company PT PLN's president director Eddie Widiono said.

 

PLTU Tawaeli was constructed by Shandong Machinary I&E Group Corp (SDMIEC) with PT Adhi Karya Indonesia as contractor.

 

In addition, the President also inaugurated a 16-kilometer power transmission facilities worth about Rp 24 billion.

 

Meanwhile Minister of Energy Purnomo Yusgiantoro, who also attended the inaugurating ceremony, said that the operation of the Tawaeli power plant could save fuel consumption of up to Rp 450 billion a year because it could reduce significantly the use of oil products. (*)