Two PLTU projects in Sulawesi to start operation in November

By Nova Farida

State-owned electricity firm PT PLN expects two coal-fired power plant (PLTU) projects in Sulawesi to be able to start operation in November of this year.

PLN Business Director for Sulawesi and Nusa Tenggara Region, Machnizon Masri said to Petromindo.com on Thursday that construction progress of 2x100 MW PLTU Punagaya project and 2x125 MW PLTU Jeneponto (extension) project has now reached 80 percent.

He said that the first unit of each project is targeted to start operation in November, providing combined electricity supply of 225 MW.

The Jeneponto unit 2 and Punagaya unit 2 are targeted to start operation in February of 2018.

Aside from the two power plant projects, Sulawesi is set to obtain additional power supply next year from the operation of 100 MW PLTU Kendari in April, and from capacity expansion (70 MW) of existing plant in Poso in December.

?There are still a lot of things to be done. We?re currently focusing on how to meet electricity demand in remote regions,? Machnizon said.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak