Sumatra power interconnection to be completed in 2007

The power interconnection project which will link all Sumatra power transmission grids is expected to be completed in 2007, allowing North Sumatra province currently in short of power supply to get additional power supply from South Sumatra , Bisnis Indonesia reported on Monday.

Spokesman for state owned electricity company PLN Muljo Adji AG said in Medan late last week that the PLN would soon begin the construction of a 112-km power grid linking Riau and North Sumatra, the last power grid that has not been connected with the existing power grid linking Southern part of Sumatra.

"When the Riau-North Sumatra power grid is completed in 2007, it will be soon connected with the South Sumatra power transmission network which has integrated all the power distribution in Jambi, South Sumatra and Lampung," he told reporters at the sideline of a ceremony to mark the ground breaking of the Asahan hydro power plant near Toba lake, North Sumatra.

According to him, the power interconnection will enable North Sumatra which is currently in short of power supply to get additional power supply of about 160 MW from South Sumatra.

He said at present, North Sumatra suffers a short of power supply of about 100 MW in normal hours and about 150 MW in peak hours. He added that besides getting additional power supply from South Sumatra, PLN is also building new power plants to cope with the electricity supply shortage.

"Hopefully in 2008, the province will no longer suffer a power supply shortage," he added. (*)