PLN to build 3rd unit of Asahan hydro power plant

Antara News, Monday, January 18, 2010 21:46 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - State electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PT PLN) plans to build the third unit of the Asahan hydro power plant to meet power demand in Sumatra.

"It has been decided at our meeting earlier today that PT PLN will build the third unit of the Asahan hydro power plant," Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Radjasa said after a meeting at the vice presidential office here on Monday.

Also present at the meeting led by Vice President Boediono were Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Darwin Shaleh, State Enterprises Minister Mustafa Abubakar, PLN president director Dahlan Iskan, president director of state oil and gas company Pertamina Karen Agustin, and president director of state gas company PT PGN Hendi Priyosantoso.

Hatta said PLN would build the power plant with a capacity of 2x87 megawatts itself.

"The project will cost an estimated US$420 million using soft loans from JBIC. The loans will have a grace period of 40 years and carry an annual interest rate of 0.7 percent," he said.

PT PLN president director Dahlan Iskan said the company had been in talks with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to discuss the loan.