Two power plants to ease electricity crisis in Southern Sumatra
Wednesday, March 14 2001 - 05:00 AM WIB
The electricity crisis plaguing Southern part of Sumatra during the past two years will likely to continue for some time, until state electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara operates fully its water-powered Besai power plant in Lampung and the planned construction of the water-powered Musi power plant in Bengkulu.
According to the head of PLN's Central Generation and Network Project for Southern Sumatra, Mas'ud, the two power plants, with combined capacity of over 300 megawatts would ease power glut in the provinces of Lampung, South Sumatra, Jambi and serve the increasing demand from 1.5 million electricity users in the territory.
"The Musi and Besai power plants are two power plants that are expected to support the increasing electricity demand in Southern Sumatra. If those two power plants could operate fully, it means that electricity crisis in Southern Sumatra could be handled," Mas'ud said.
He noted that the Besai power plant, utilizing Way Besai river in Lampung, with capacity of 2 X 45 megawatt, was currently on trial operation. The power plant would be fully operational by the middle of this year, and therefore, it would help ease demand in the territory.
The problem is with the Musi power plant, that is being built at Kepahiang, Rejang Lebong in Bengkulu, utilizing water from Musi river that runs through South Sumatra. The fate of Musi power plant, with planned capacity of 3 X 70 megawatt, is currently still on the balance.
The Musi power plant should have been completed by this year, but because of the economic crisis, the construction of the power plant was halted.
Nevertheless, the deputy chairman of the Musi plant project, Suparmana Sigit, noted that despite the postponement of the project, physical construction of the Musi power plant had actually resumed since a year ago.
"What makes the Musi power plant late in its operation is because technical development fund to buy, for instance, power generator is not yet available. We hope, based on negotiation in the central government, the real development of the Musi power plant could resume this year," Suparmana said.
He noted that if no cancellation again and no barriers in its development, Musi power plant would be ready and start full operation in year 2005. (*)