Residents protest construction of PLN transmission network facility

State-owned electricity company PLN may not be able to meet its target to boost crucial power supply to the southern part of Java this year due to disruption in the construction of its power transmission network amid protest from villagers, the Kompas daily reported on Monday.

The transmission network is crucial to secure power supply in the main Java-Bali power network.

The paper quoted head of PLN power distribution unit for Java and Bali Muljo Adji as saying that residents living in some areas to be passed through by the PLN transmission network had protested the planned construction of the high voltage cables.

As a result, PLN has to stop the construction of eight transmission tower facilities. The protest came from residents in some villages in Klaten (Central Java), Tasikmalaya, and Depok (West Java) despite compensation promised by PLN. The villagers said they would not risk their life living under high volgate power transmission network.

PLN initially expected to complete the construction of the crucial transmission network next month, and is expected to be inaugurated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

The transmission network for southern part of Java was expected to supply power from three power plants to be completed in October 2005 and 2006. The three plants are the 740 MW Cilegon coal fired power plant, the Tanjung Jati B 1,320 MW plant, and the 600 MW Cilacap plant. The power supply will be crucial to ensure sufficinet electricity for the main Java-Bali power grid.(*)