PLN to Develop Biomass Power Plant in Remote Areas
5 August 2014 15:44 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – State power company PT PLN (Persero) plans to increase its biomass powered electrification capability in remote areas. PLN president director Nur Pamudji said that a number of Indonesia's remote areas have the advantage of fertile soil and abundant livestock population, which are crucial sources in producing biomass.
"Indonesia is rich in biomass raw material, so the energy is relatively cheaper than solar electric or diesel," he said yesterday.
On 21 July, PLN began operating Indonesia's first biomass power plant in Gorontalo's Pulubala District. The Pulubala power plant uses corn cobs as energy source to drive a generator that produces 500 kilowatts of electricity.
PLN is also working on the construction of a biomass power plant in District Kais, South Sorong Regency, West Papua. Through PT Prima Layanan Nasional Enjiniring, PLN will build a biomass power plant that uses sago fiber, wood, or coal gasification. The electricity generated will be used by the sago factory owned by Perum Perhutani.
To support the development of biomass power, PLN works with US-based General Electric (GE), developing biomass-based power generating engines.
RAYMUNDUS RIKANG | AYU PRIMA SANDI
