WIKA ventures to power plant

State construction company PT Wijaya Karya (WIKA) has decided to venture into power sector, particularly micro-hydro and geothermal power plants.

The company?s director of power business, Ikuten Sinulingga, said that WIKA would become an investor in the power industry by utilizing its experience in power plant construction.

?But, as this is our new venture, we?re still in a stage of learning,? he was quoted by the Jakarta Globe as saying in Jakarta on Friday.

According to him, WIKA has established a subsidiary, named WIKA Jabar Power, to manage its first geothermal power plant in West Java.

?We?re now focusing on the first development. We have no plan so far to take another geothermal project. Later we?ll seek more projects,? he said.

But he added that WIKA would possibly be developing three hydro power plants. One is a mini-hydro power plant in Lampung with a generation capacity of six megawatt (MW) and its permit had been secured. The other two are possibly in North Sumatra. ?But we?re still exploring the possibility of developing the two power plants in North Sumatra,? he said.

Ikuten noted that WIKA will spend around Rp 1 trillion a year to generate around 100 megawatt (MW) per year. (*)