West Sumatra to tender coal-fired power plant projects soon

West Sumatra provincial administration will hold a tender for the construction of new coal-fired power plants with a capacity of 400 megawatts (MW) in the province in the first semester of this year, Bisnis Indonesia reported Wednesday.

West Sumatra Governor Gamawan Fauzi said the construction of the new power plant projects with an investment of Rp 2.7 trillion are expected to be completed and come on stream next year.

"The two power plant construction projects will soon be tendered before the first quarter of 2007 ends. The plants are expected to start operation in 2008 and hopefully, power shortage problem in the area can be solved," he said.

One of the power plants, with a capacity of 2 x 100- MW up to 2 x 150 MW will be constructed in Padang and another one with a capacity of 2x100 MW will be constructed in Pesisir Selatan Regency.

Gunawan said that the construction of the two coal-fired power plant projects was part of the government crash program to provide additional power supply of 10,000 MW. (*)