TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government plans to construct two gas power plants in Pemping, Batam - which shares a border with Singapore. Both power plants - which are expected to produce 125 kVa (kilovolt ampere) - will be built by a consortium consisting of state gas corporation PT PGN, ConocoPhillips, and Petro China International Jabung.
"Previously, the area relies on fossil fuels - specifically diesel," said PGN's Corporate Secretary, Heri Yusup through a written statement released on Tuesday, June 23, 2015. Heri also said that PGN's subsidiary, PT Transportasi Gas Indonesia, will also develop a network to distribute natural gases to homes in the area.
The gas supply that will be used to power the plants will be provided by ConocoPhillips, and facilitated by the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKK Migas).
It is known that the project will require some Rp 9.24 billion in investment - and once the distribution network is established, it will be handed over by PGN to Batam City's Administration. Once the transfer is completed, the distribution of the electric power will be given to the government, to be managed through state-electricity company, PT PLN.
It is known that Pemping is an area where gas pipelines from all across Indonesia intersects - which makes it ironic that the electricity that is supplied to around 250 homes around the area comes from diesel-fueled power plants.
Previously, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said that it is optimistic that villages in the area shall be connected to the electric grid by August 2015. In order to do so, the the Ministry plans to utilise both the existing diesel-fueled plants, as well as newly explored renewable energy sources.
The government also plans to inject some Rp 1.5 trillion is subsidies, which will be used to help those who help connect poor households to the power grid - the execution of which will be tasked to PT PLN.
"The procurement process is ongoing, and installation is slated to begin in August. So far, everything is going according to schedule," said the Director General for Electricity for the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Jarman.
ROBBY IRFANY
