Dutch investors interested in hydro-power project in Babel

Antara News, Thursday, March 18, 2010 21:02 WIB

Pangkalpinang (ANTARA News) - A number of Dutch investors have expressed interest in building hydro-power plants (PLTA) in Bangka Belitung (Babel) province to meet the power needs of the people in remote and isolated islands.

"The interest of the Dutch investors provides an opportunity for the government to meet the needs of the people living in remote and isolated small islands for electricity," chairman of the Babel legislative Counci (DPRD) Ismiyardi said in Pangkalpinang Thursday.

He made the statement in view of the declaration of Babel, along with 12 other provinces in the country, as an area facing a power crisis.

"Some of the Dutch investors have even already conducted a survey in the province to study the prospects of PLTA including its impacts," he said.

He said that the building of a PLTA would be more beneficial to the local people compared to other types of power plants.

"Now that Babel has been declared as an area also facing a power crisis, the local administration is facing a challenge to raise power supplies," he said.

He said the regional administration needs to invite investors to build hydro-power plants (PLTA), coal-fired power plants (PLTU) and nuclear power plants (PLTN).

"At the moment, Babel needs 180 megawatts (MW), and maybe even larger, because the number of those on the waiting list have yet to be taken into consideration, including hotels and other buildings," he said.

While the building of PLTU Air Anyir with a capacity of 2x30 MW would be completed this year, the province would still need other sources.

So far, he said, the government cannot do much, because matters relating to electricity was entirely the business of state power company PT PLN.