Thai's Banpu to build 130-MW power plant in S. Kalimantan

Thailand coal miner Banpu Public Company Ltd. has planned to build a 130 megawatt (MW) coal fired power plant in Kotabaru regency in South Kalimantan, local daily Banjarmasin Post reported on Thursday.

The company will sign a memorandum of understanding with PT Indonesia Power, and the South Kalimantan provincial administration in January 2003, the newspaper quoted as saying Banpu's senior vice president Chanchai Jivacate after his meeting with provincial governor Sjachriel Darham in Banjarmasin on Wednesday.

The power plant, which will be located in Asam-asam district in coal-rich Kotabaru, will use coal as its source of energy.

The project would cost some US$60 million, Chanchai said.

Chanchai said around 2.5 years would be required to complete the construction of the power plant.

Meanwhile, Sjachriel said currently the coal-fired power plant in operation in Asam-asam had installed capacity of 660 MW. (*)