State-owned electricity firm PT PLN (Persero) has shut down the Kamanggih diesel power plant (PLTD) in the Kahaungu Eti District, Sumba Timur Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province. This move supports the optimization of large-scale power plants and clean energy following the completion of electricity system interconnection in Waingapu City.
This initiative is part of PLN's program to convert PLTDs into power plants based on renewable energy (EBT) to increase the share of clean energy and reduce carbon emissions, thus aiming to achieve the Net Zero Emission target.
Ismanta, the Manager of PLN’ Sumba Timur Unit, expressed gratitude for the cessation of operations at PLTD Kamanggih and hoped to provide better service in terms of power generation systems
He attributed this achievement to the collaboration of the entire community, government, and PLN units in Sumba that supported the development progress of the electricity network interconnection from PLTD Kambajawa in Waingapu City. “The goal is clear: to ensure more reliable electricity supply to customers and reduce the production of oil-based energy,” he said as quoted by local news portal Lintasntt.com on Tuesday.
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PLTD Kamanggih has been operational since 2004 with a capacity of 44 kW, serving 413 customers, and is one of the PLTDs supporting the electricity supply on Sumba Island among 7 small PLTDs spread across the island. The closure of PLTD Kamanggih resulted in cost savings for PLN of Rp 548 million per year, reduced the use of fuel by 27.5 million kiloliters per year, and improved the reliability of electricity distribution to customers.
Meanwhile, I Gede Agung Sindu Putra, the General Manager of PLN’ East Nusa Tenggara operations, explained that the closure of PLTD Kamanggih is part of PLN's transformation programs, “Lean and Green.”
"The closure of PLTD Kamanggih is one of our targets in the Lean transformation program, which aims to provide agile, low-cost electricity while maintaining reliability in energy distribution to the community. In addition, green energy can also be produced by reducing PLTD operations and increasing the use of renewables because currently, the Waingapu electricity system is also interconnected with the IPP Hambapraing Solar Power Plant," explained Sindu.
He said the program to stop or reduce the operation of other PLTDs in Sumba Island will continue, such as PLTD Tabundung, PLTD Kananggar, and PLTD Kakaha, by interconnecting systems and optimizing existing EBT power plants such as solar power plants and micro-hydro power plants. This is also related to increasing the use of green energy.
PLN has built 9 renewable-based power plants scattered across Sumba Island, consisting of 7 solar power plants (PLTS) and 2 micro-hydro power plants (PLTMH), with a clean energy mix of 2.95% in 2023.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak
