PLAN TO DEVELOP 35 THOUSAND-MW POWER PLANTS NOT AMBITIOUS: JOKOWI

Bantul, Yogyakarta, 16 Rajab 1436/5 May 2015 (MINA) – The Indonesia governments plan to develop power plants, with a combined generation capacity of 35 thousand megawatts (MW), in the next five years is not an ambitious project, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated.

“This is not an ambitious project or a very high target, but this is a governments promise to the people that has not yet been realized,” the president noted during the launch of the program here on Monday, Antara News Agency  by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The president remarked that people from several segments of the society are not yet able to avail electricity. Jokowi revealed that he always received complaints regarding electricity during his visits to the regions, districts, and cities.

“They all need electricity, nothing else. Development of hotels and industrial areas needs electricity. We cannot develop downstream industries and conduct industrialization without electricity,” Jokowi emphasized.

The president stated that several people harbor doubts whether Indonesia will be able to develop power plants, with a total generation capacity of 35 thousand MW, in the coming five years. Yet, the head of state reminded that the government is not ambitious to realize the program.

“It is because the project is a planned program supported by simplified regulations,” he pointed out.

Jokowi stated that the government will monitor the development of the 35 thousand-MW power plants program, so that any encountered problems can be solved at the earliest.

“This is not an easy job, but I will supervise the construction of the projects, which are located in about 210 places, so that their progress can be monitored on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis,” the president emphasized.

On the occasion, President Jokowi inaugurated the program to develop power plants, with a total capacity of 35 thousand MW, at the Goa Cemara Beach, Gadingsari village of Bantul, Yogyakarta.

“We plan to develop renewable and new sources of energy such as wind, geothermal, hydro, as well as plantation energy, which can be sourced from vegetable oil and biomass. This is being done to ensure that we do not have to depend on fossil fuel,” he noted here on Monday.

Jokowi pointed out that for almost seven decades, Indonesia could only generate 50 thousand MW of electricity.

The president believes that this energy deficit poses a problem for the people residing in rural areas.

Furthermore, Jokowi affirmed that the development of 35 thousand MW of electricity can improve the economic condition of Indonesia.

During his visit to Bantul, the head of state observed the mock-ups of the power plants that will supply 35 thousand MW of electricity to Indonesia.

To realize these sources of power that help to generate 35 thousand MW of electricity, the government has inked agreements on several projects with state enterprises and foreign private companies.

Moreover, Indonesian power company PLN signed a few agreements with partners to realize the plan.

PLN signed a power purchase agreement with PT Yogyakarta Bayu Energy to develop wind turbines that can generate 50 MW of electricity.

In addition, other companies that signed agreements on the development of power projects with PLN were from a consortium of renewable energy developers. It signed an agreement with Binatek Energi Terbarukan for a 70-MW wind turbine project in Sidrap; with PT DSSP Power Kendari for Kendari-3, a 2x50MW steam-powered generator project; and with PT Bosowa Energi for Jeneponto Expansion, a 2x125MW steam-powered generator.

PLN also inked several agreements with foreign companies, including with the consortium of Samsung C&T and Lotte E&C, HK, for a 450-MW gas-powered generator Grati Peaker, and on gas trading with Conoco Philips.

Jokowi also held a video conference with the management of three power plants: the one in Jatigede, Sumedang, West Java province; the plant in Takalar in Jeneponto, South Sulawesi province; and the one in Pangkalan Susu, North Sumatra province. (T/P010/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)