TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Based on the records of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the current micro hydro power plants suggested by water power management companies only managed to produce 16.37 MW.
It is a drastic 137 percent drop compared to last year’s 38.92 MW capacity suggested during the same period.
Read: West Nusa Tenggara to Soon Operate Micro Hydro Power Plant
Three locations were chosen by management companies, which is in Kandibata (North Sumatra) with a 9.7 MW capacity; in Wae Lega (East Nusa Tenggara) generating 1.75 MW; and in Babatan (South Sumatra) generating 4.92 MW. The total investment reached Rp454 billion.
The number of micro hydro projects this year has dropped significantly because of a transitional period. Based on the latest regulation, anything involving power plants is authorized by PLN. The ministry isn’t authorized anymore to name a company to manage hydro power plants.
The Ministry of Energy said that the realization of micro hydro power plants and solar power plants during the first semester was only 12.45 MW, which is only 10 percent from this year’s 124 MW goal.
Read: Garut to Have Mini Hyro Power Plant
The ambitious goal, according to General Director of Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation, Rida Mulyana, was set during a period when the feed-in tariff policy elevated hydro and solar power plants’ selling price.
The pricing policy from the Ministry of Energy can possibly risk holding back micro hydro power plant investments up to 300 MW.
Robby Irfany
