President to inaugurate Asahan I hydro power plant today
Tuesday, January 18 2011 - 02:36 AM WIB
The total investment of the project is US$310 million, with the funds coming from Chinese firm China Huadian and PT Pembangkitan Jawa-Bali (PJB), a subsidiary of state owned electricity firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN).
The construction of the project started in August 2007.
The PLTA Asahan I is an independent power producer (IPP) project jointly owned by local firm PT Badjradaya Sentranusa and Chinese firm Huadian Engineering Corporation.
Earlier, Environment Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta had asked the plant?s operation be delayed until after the project's owner had conducted an environmental audit.
The minister said that the environmental audit was needed because the plant was built without the mandatory environmental impact analysis impact (Amdal). The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, however, said that the plant did not need an Amdal because it would use a run-off water system in its operation. (denny)