Sumitomo completes Ulubelu geothermal project
Friday, November 9 2012 - 07:01 AM WIB
Sumitomo corporation had completed last month the construction of the Ulubelu geothermal power plant unit 1 and 2, each with a generation capacity of 55 megawatts (MW), and are ready for delivery to state utility PT. Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN).
Located in the Ulubelu district, Tanggamus county in Lampumg Province at the southern tip of Indonesia's Sumatra island, the Ulubelu power plant was built as the first large-scale geothermal power generating facility on the island, the company said in a press statement.
The construction project was financed with a yen credit loan from the Japanese government. Sumitomo corporation received an order from PLN to undertake the Ulubelu power plant construction project through international bidding in 2010. The project was completed after two years, ahead of the deadline set in the contract with PLN.
Under the project, the main unit--the geothermal steam turbine and generator--was supplied by Fuji Electric Co., Ltd., which boasts advanced technological prowess and abundant experience in the manufacture of geothermal power generation facilities. At the same time, PT Rekayasa Industri, an Indonesian company, took charge of civil, construction and installation work.
Building on the success of the Ulubelu project, Sumitomo corporation will aim at further contributing to building environmentally friendly electric power infrastructure. Notably, the Indonesian government is planning to launch a number of new geothermal power plants capable of generating approximately 4,000 megawatt (MW) in total under its "second fast track program of developing 10,000 MW" across the country.
Sumitomo Corporation has been globally engaged in the construction and delivery of geothermal power plants and now generates approximately 2,200 MW, including the new facility in Ulubelu. This is equivalent to around 20% of the capacity of geothermal power plants currently operating worldwide.
In Indonesia alone, the Company has involved in eight geothermal power plant projects, delivering a total capacity of approximately 640 MW. This accounts for about half of the country's existing geothermal power capacity of around 1,340 MW.
Editing by Benget Besalicto Tnb.