Java-Bali grid set for increased power supply

Alfian, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 01/05/2009 11:06 AM  

Java and Bali will receive an additional 1,535 megawatts (MW) of power supply this year, although the increased capacity would still not still reach an ideal level, state power firm PT PLN said over the weekend. 

PLN's director for the Java and Bali region, Murtaqi Syamsuddin, said PLN's system in the area would receive more power from three new power plants and two upgraded power plants. 

"Some of the power plants under the 10,000 MW crash program will start to operate this year and will increase power capacity for the Java and Bali system," Murtaqi said as quoted by Antara. 

The government launched the first 10,000 MW power project in 2006 in a bid to anticipate increasing power demand, especially in the Java-Bali system where power demand rises by an average of 6.72 percent every year. 

About 6,800 MW of the capacity from the 10,000 MW program is located in Java and Bali, provided by 10 new power plants, while the remaining 3,200 MW capacity is located outside the Java-Bali system to be generated by about 20 smaller power plants. 

Murtaqi said three new power plants with a total capacity of 1,245 MW in Java would begin operation this year. 

These three power plants are the Labuan power plant in Banten province with a total capacity of 600 MW; the Indramayu power plant in West Java with a total capacity 330 MW; and the Rembang power plant in Central Java with a total capacity of 315 MW. 

The Java-Bali system would also receive additional power from the upgraded Muara Karang Power plant in North Jakarta and the Wayang Windu power plant in West Java. After being upgraded, the Muara Karang and the Wayang Windu power plants will generate 180 MW and 110 MW power, respectively. 

Despite the additional supply, Murtaqi said the Java-Bali power system would not yet have an adequate level of reserve power capacity. 

Murtaqi said this year power consumption during peak hours in the system would increase from 16,300 MW to 16,900 MW, while its installed capacity would go up from 20,500 MW to 22,035 MW. 

This means the system's power reserve capacity will increase from 4,200 MW, which accounts for 25.78 percent of its peak load, to 5,135 MW, or 30.40 percent of its peak load. 

"Ideally, the power reserve should be higher than 40 percent," Murtaqi said. 

In an earlier interview, Murtaqi said that with the limited power reserve, PLN had to manage power shortages whenever its power plants faced problems. Blackouts were one way of easing the power shortage, he added. 

This year PLN also plans to start up four new power plants with a total capacity of 270 MW in the Sumatra system; a 40 MW power plant in the Kalimantan system; and two new power plant with a total capacity of 22 MW in the Sulawesi system. 

Three power plants with a total capacity of 90 MW from private power producers are also expected to become operational this year.