Wide support helps speed up 40 MW Lahendong expansion of Pertamina in North Sulawesi
Lahendong Unit 2 plant Sulawesi, Indonesia (source: aecom.com)
Alexander Richter
10 Mar 2016
Pertamina Geothermal credits the wide support of stakeholders, such as local and central government, as well as surrounding communities to its faster progress on the 40 MW expansion of its Lahendong geothermal power plant in North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Covered in local news, Pertamina Geothermal Energy, a subsidiary of PT Pertamina (Persero), has reported that development of geothermal electricity (PLTP) Lahendong in Tompaso, North Sulawesi, indicating progress faster than expected.
“Until the end of February the rate of progress the project has reached 54.63 percent or about 2-3 months sooner than planned,” said President Director of PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) Irfan Zainuddin in a statement in Jakarta, yesterday.
Irfan said PGE started up the construction of geothermal power plants Lahendong Units 5 & 6 with a capacity of 2×20 MW, since 2015. Geothermal Power Plant Units 5 & 6 is an investment of $282.07 million.
Since the exploitation phase to the construction of geothermal power plants are all carried out by PGE. The electricity produced will sold to PT PLN (Persero). “This is different from PLTP Unit 1-4 where PGE just off steam to PLN to then generate electricity through geothermal power plants owned by PLN,” said Irfan.
Irfan said PGE can carry out the project PLTP Units 5 & 6 is faster because of the support of the government, both central and local levels as well as the surrounding community. Among the support shown by the rapid process of stage work permits, land acquisition, as well as the auction process is timely.
“All relevant stakeholders have to understand the activity of geothermal development is an attempt to fulfill the electricity demand that relies on renewable energy that are environmentally friendly and in line with a support program Indonesia recently promoted by the government represented by the Ministry of Energy,” he said.
Before units 5 and 6, have been operating Lahendong PLTP Units 1, 2, 3 and 4 with a capacity of each unit of 20 MW. “Lahendong 1-4 PLTP supplies about 40 percent of the electricity demand in North Sulawesi and we commit to continue to increase the supply of geothermal power through new projects, namely Lahendong units 5 and 6,” said Irfan.
Commissioner of Pertamina Mr. Abeng during a visit to the project site in the District Tompaso, Minahasa regency which is about 24 km from Tomohon, said the acceleration of the construction of geothermal power plants in North Sulawesi is essential to meeting the needs of electricity of North Sulawesi.
Currently Sulut had a deficit of electricity supply. Extra power supply of 2×20 MW of Geothermal Power Plant Units 5 & 6 would be very beneficial for the people of North Sulawesi considering there are still areas in North Sulawesi that have not been electricity.
Source: Aktual
