Batang Steam Power Plant to Kick-off Friday

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The steam power plant project in Batang, Central Java, is set to commence soon albeit there are some land for the projects that have not been bought. Teguh Dwi Paryono, head of the Energy and Mineral Resources Department for Central Java Province, said the groundbreaking for the 2x1,000 MW power plant project is scheduled for Friday, August 28, 2015.

"If all goes according to plan, the groundbreaking will be done by President Joko Widodo," Teguh said in Semarang, Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Teguh said there are still 12.7 hectares of land that have not been purchased as a number of landowners are still unwilling to sell.

According to Teguh, the government will take consignment steps by entrusting the land acquisition money to the court. He did not mention how much the budget for the land acquisition is.

Batang steam power plant is one of the projects included in the 35,000MW power project aimed at supplying electricity nationwide over the next five years.  

Along the way, the project has been met with obstacles. In addition to residents' rejection to sell their lands, there have also been rejections for the community over the construction.

Three representatives of the local community event went so far as flying to Japan in July—accompanied by Greenpeace Indonesia activists—to meet with the Japan Bank International Cooperation (JBIC). They asked the JBIC to stop funding the project plant stems. Roidi, one of the residents who oppose this project, said that the existence of Batang power plant will harm farmers and fishermen.

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo continues to encourage the construction of the plant. He said that the project is paramount for Central Java in particular, as the province is already lacking in electricity supply and may be faced with threats of power crisis in 2017.

ROFIUDDIN