TLB begins construction of Bengkulu coal-fired power plant

Independent power producer PT Tenaga Listrik Bengkulu (TLB) started on Tuesday construction of a 2x100 MW coal-fired power plant located near Baai Island in Bengkulu Province with a ground-breaking ceremony, Bisnis Indonesia reported.

The paper quoted Petrus Halim, President Commissioner of TLB, which is 70 percent owned by Sinohydro Hongkong and 30 percent by IDX-listed heavy equipment firm PT Intraco Penta Tbk, said that construction of the power plant is expected to be completed in 36 months, and to start commercial operation in November of 2019.

He said that construction can be quickly completed as the 50-ha land required has been provided by state-owned port operator PT Pelindo II.

The Bengkulu power plant project is Intraco?s second power plant after the 2x65 MW Batam coal-fired power plant, which was completed in 2012.

The estimated $360 million Bengkulu power plant project, which obtains $270 million loans from Exim Bank China and ICBC, will require about 1 million tons of coal per year, expected to come from miners in Bengkulu Province. (*)