Solar power plant to be built in Nias

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in cooperation with the North Nias Regency Administration and R-20 Regions for Climate Action, an NGO, will develop a 10 MW solar power plant in the regency, Bisnis Indonesia reported on Friday.

Construction of the US$40 million solar power plant will be integrated with a plantation, which could become a source of biofuel for the power plant, said Director General of New and Renewable Energy, Rida Mulyana.

North Nias Regent Edward Zega said that the project would help increase the electrification ratio in the region, which currently stands at 19 percent, much lower than the national ratio 81 percent. Power capacity in Nias currently stands at 25 MW, entirely coming from diesel fuel plant. (*)