WIKA, Chengda start construction of S. Kalimantan power project

State-owned Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) and five provincial development banks BPDs have agreed to provide funds for the construction of two new units of the PLTU Asam-Asam coal-fired power plant in Tanah Laut regency, South Kalimantan.

Speaking during the ground breaking ceremony of the new power projects on Thursday, South Kalimantan Governor Rudy Arifin said that he hoped the expansion of the PLTU Asam-Asam would be able to solve the acute power shortage in South and Central Kalimantan provinces.

PLTU Asam-Asam which at present operates two power turbines (units I and II) has become the main power supplier for the two provinces. The units III and IV to be built at the power plant?s complex would have a capacity of 2 x 65 MW.

The Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) of power plant will be built by PT Wijaya Karya Tbk and Chinese firm Chengda Engineering Corp of China.

The power plant is under the part of government?s 10,000 MW fast-track program (*)