President Susilo inaugurates hydroelectric plant

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono inaugurated on Thursday the Sipan sihaporas hydroelectric power plant and interconnecting transmission line projects in Central Tapanuli, North Sumatra, The Jakarta Post newspaper reported in its Friday edition.

The projects were financed by a Japanese yen loan amounting to 12.2 billion yen (about US$103 million). A release from the Japanese Embassy said the main purpose of the projects was to improve the tight electricity supply and demand situation in North Sumatra.

In his speech, Susilo reminded state power firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) that only 120 million of the country’s 220 million population enjoyed access to power supplied by the utility.

“The progress of development in Indonesia is not reflected by the gleaming skylines of Jakarta, Medan or Surabaya,” he said as quoted by Antara.

“Progress should be gauged by the level of access to power in rural areas.”

The power plant has a capacity of 50 megawatts and is expected to produce 203.6 gigawatt hours per year.

The completion of the plant, whose construction began in 1997, should help save hydrocarbon –based fuels worth Rp 217.85 billion (US$21.70 million) per annum.

Indonesia has abundant renewable energy resources such as geothermal and hydro energy.(*)