Sumitomo eyeing more Indonesian power investment

Japan's Sumitomo Corp wants to expand its investment in Indonesia's power sector because of the country's growing demand for energy, the company's chief said on Thursday.

"Indonesia needs more electricity in future. That's why if there is a chance for us, we are interested in participating," Sumitomo chief executive officer Motoyuki Oka told reporters after meeting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Separately, Mines and Energy Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said Sumitomo planned to expand the coal-fired Tanjung Jati B power plant in Central Java with another 1,320 megawatts.

Sumitomo is already involved in Tanjung Jati B, which will have a capacity of 1,320 MW when it comes on stream next year.

State electricty firm, PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), has said several Japanese firms, including Sumitomo, have shown interest in building a power plant in West Java province.

PLN has said it wanted to open a tender for the 600 MW coal-fired power plant as soon as it could.

Indonesia has said it wanted to add 24,000 MW of electricity by 2013, in projects estimated to cost $30 billion. (*)