PLN to build two thermal plants in Southeast Sulawesi

Makassar (ANTARA News) - State electricity firm PT PLN and a private company will build two thermal power plants with a combined capacity of 40 MW in Southeast Sulawesi province this year.

PLN will also build distribution networks to connect the power plants to the existing interconnection networks, Fauzi Arusman, general manager of the company`s branch in Southeast Sulawesi, said on Thursday.

But he stopped short of revealing the amount of investment needed to build the facilities.

He said the existing power plants with a capacity of 30 MW could not meet power demand particularly during the peak load.

"We have power plants with a combined capacity of 30 MW while our power need during the peak load is 30.7 MW," he said.

Consequently, PLN was compelled to subject its 130,000 customers in the province to rotating power blackouts, he said.