PLN to Buy Hydropower Electricity

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-owned utilities firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) plans to buy electricity from the Merangin water power plant (PLTA). The power plant will have a capacity of 350 megawatts (MW) and will be constructed and operated by PT Kerinci Merangin Hidro. The water power plant, that will be built in Kerinci regency, Jambi, will utilize the waterpower potential of Lake Kerinci.

"The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PT Kerinci Merangin Hidro is part of the company’s effort to fulfill growing electricity demands in Sumatra," said PLN President Director Nur Pamudji in a press conference earlier today, July 25.

The MoU signing were done personally by the PLN President Director Nur Pamudji himself and PT Kerinci Merangin Hidro Achmad Kalla. Participating in the MoU signing event were the founder of Kalla Group Jusuf Kalla, Jambi Governor Hasan Basri Agus, and BRI Director Sulaiman Arianto.

"With this MoU, the plan to build PLTA Merangin 350 MW, that had been brought to a halt since 2010 shall continue," Nur Pamudji said.

In addition, in this cooperation project, PLN will apply a new approach to guarantee the success of private electricity projects. The new approach, that will involve banks from the earliest stage of negotiation with private companies, is expected to hasten the financial closing stage to immediately boost the construction projects.

AYU PRIMA SANDI