West Java targets electricity coverage to rise to 75% in 2013

The West Java provincial government has set a target to raise electricity coverage in the region to 75 percent in 2013 from 69,89 percent at present, a senior official at the provincial government said.

Yerry Yanuar, head of Energy and Mineral Resources office of the West Java provincial government said the rise is possible in line with the operation of a number of geothermal power plants in the region in the coming years.

He said geothermal energy potentiality is estimated to reach 6,101 MW in the region, spreading in 49 spots and four working areas. ?This represents 20.8 percent of geothermal energy potentials in the country,? he said.

He said at present majority of electricity in West Java comes from coal-fired power plants (PLTUs), which accounts for 44 percent of total electricity production. The other electricity supply is produced by geothermal power plants, hydro power plants and gas power plants.

He said only small portion of the geothermal energy has been developed into geothermal power plants.

He said this year, the West Java provincial government has paid special attention to inventorying and initiating preparatory works aiming at development of 11 geothermal fields in the province, namely Ciseeng (25 MW), Gunung Pancar (50 MW), Gunung Galunggung (1000 MW), Jampang (150 MW), Tanggeung (100 MW), Cisewu and Ciguning (50 MW), Gunung Kromong (50 MW), Cilayu (50 MW) and Ciheuras (25 MW). (sonar)