PLTU GUNUNG MAS OPERATIONAL IN 2013

Palangkaraya, Feb 19 (ANTARA) - The construction of the coal-fired power plant PLTU Gunung Mas with a capacity of 2 x 100 megawatts (MW) in Gunung Mas regency, Central Kalimantan, is scheduled for completion and operational in early 2013.

"The construction of the project will take 30 months. Preparations had been finalized pending construction," Central Kalimantan Governor Agustin Teras Narang said here Friday.

Teras said the PLTU which will cost 200 million dollars, or Rp1.8 trillion, will be built and funded by independent power producers with its electricity to be sold to state power utility PLN.

The project will be run by a consortium of national companies, including state companies like PT Wijaya Karya.

"A team of the contractors had twice conducted a survey of the location, including potential coal reserves, and said they are ready to start building the project," Teras said.

PLTU Gunung Mas is expected to raise power supply capacity to most parts of Central Kalimantan which are currently still facing a power crisis.

Besides building big scale PLTUs, the Gunung Mas regency administration will build a PLTU with a smaller capacity of 2 x 7 MW for power supply to the hinterland this year.

A memorandum of understanding on the construction of PLTU Gunung Mas, capacity 2 x 7 MW, had already been signed by the Gunung Mas regency administration, PT Inti Daya Mitra Utama, and PT Gunung Mas Persada.

Gunung Mas Regent Hambit Bintih said his administration has prepared five hectares of land for the PLTU near to the regency's capital in Kuala Kurun.

In addition, preparations had also been made for 6,000 ha of coal mines for the mine entrance power plant.

The PLTU will take about 16 months to build at a cost of Rp200 billion, and scheduled for completion and operation next year.

The PLTU will supply electricity to thousands of homes in the hinterland, some of them enjoyed full electricity for 12 hours a day only, and the rest subjeted to rotating power cuts.