BANDUNG, October 31 (EngineeringDaily) -- Indonesian state-owned electricity company PT PLN will sponsor two coal-steam power plant projects on Java Island, with an investment of approximately Rp 72 trillion (USD 8 billion). Each of the projects will add additional power capacity of 2 x 1,000 MW and a total increase in capacity of 4,000 MW for the island’s power grid.
According to PLN President Director Nur Pamudji, these two projects are part of the second stage in the acceleration of nationwide power plant development. "In a few months, we will be able to offer these projects to construction companies," said Pamudji, with the goal of completing the projects by 2020.
Through construction of new power plants, the government aims to improve the nation’s power capacity by 10,000 MW per year to meet the projected needs of 240,000 MW by 2031. Currently, Indonesia’s power generation capacity stands at approximately 50,000 MW.
The fuel for these power plants consists mostly of coal and natural gas. According to data released by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the share of coal in the energy mix for the electricity sector should be around 57.33% in 2015, with 23.21% of fuel coming from natural gas. In 2020, the government expects to achieve a 65% share of coal, 18% gas, and 1% fuel oil.
By Ismail Al Anshori
