Tanjung Priok power plant increases supply capacity

The Java and Bali power grid has received additional power supply from the re-operation of the third and fourth units of the combined cycled Tanjung Priok power plant in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta on Wednesday, Kompas reported on Thursday.

The two power units, which has been idled since 1997 has been under overhaul and renovation at total cost of about Rp 96 billion. The power generation capacity of the two power plants has been increased to 2 x 50 MW each from 2 x 25 MW previously during the renovation works which were handled by state-owned shipyard and engineering company PT PAL.

Ria Tri Sakya, the general manager of Tanjung Priok power plant, said that the operation of the two power units was still very costly because they still used marine diesel fuel. "But with the current shortage of power supply, the operation of the two power units would be still quite helpful," he said.

In addition of the two power units, the Tanjung Priok power plants operates two power plant complexes comprising three gas-fired power plants and one coal-fired power plant also two units power plants used oil.

The Tanjung Priok power plant needs at least 850 kiloliters of fuel a day. The use of oil continues to increase recently due to the decline in gas supply which is provided by BP West Java. The gas supply has recently declined to about 125 MMBTU a day from the previous 250 MMBTU a day. (*)