Jakarta, Jan 22 (Antara) - As electricity plays a crucial role in the lives of the people, both at the industrial and household level, hence the government has continued to boost the electrification ratio in the country.
To this end, the government has set an annual target to install an average of three million new consumer connections.
"The government has outlined a program to provide new electricity connections to three million customers every year in its efforts to narrow the electrification gap in Indonesia," Banny Marbun, the commercial division head of state-owned power utility company PLN, stated at the building of the Electricity Directorate General of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) in Jakarta on Thursday.
Indonesia has virtually been able to boost its electrification ratio to a significant level during the past five years.
After seven decades of development up until the end of 2015, the electrification ratio in Indonesia had reached some 87 percent. This figure has significantly increased in the past five years.
A 20 percent increase has been recorded in the electrification ratio, from 67 percent a decade ago to currently 87 percent.
"In the coming five years, the ratio is expected to increase by some 8.7 percent, so that our target to provide 95 percent electricity supplies to consumers by 2019 would be achieved," PLN President Director Sofyan Basir was quoted by Suara.com online media as saying last October.
With the set target to install three million new connections every year, the state power company is expected to finally achieve the 95 percent electrification ratio.
Commercial Division Head of PLN Benny Marbun affirmed that PLN had expressed confidence in meeting the government's target to provide more than three million power connections to new customers every year. So far, power operators have almost the same targets.
"Every year, we set a target to meet the need of consumers, which is between three to 3.5 million connections. Yet we have a challenge as well," stated Benny.
He acknowledged that PLN can meet the target to provide some 3.5 million new connections or even more of up to 3.8 million.
"The realization is more or less the same as the target we have set. But, we often exceed the target. For instance, we have set a target to install 3.5 million connections, but in reality, we were able to provide 3.8 million new power connections," he revealed.
He remarked that the ability to even exceed the target is supported by a system, which has been prepared by PLN. It has adequate power generators in the regions, while the electricity project contractors were also able to swiftly complete their projects.
"Realization largely depends on the readiness of our system, the adequacy of power plants in the region, and the speediness of contractors in finishing their installation works," he pointed out.
As part of its efforts to meet the need for power supplies in the country, PLN has also cooperated with a Malaysian company to import electricity from Malaysia.
To this end, PLN and Sesco of Malaysia have signed a sale-purchase contract or power exchange agreement (PEA) on the export-import of electricity for a period of 25 years, PLN spokesman Agung Murdifi stated.
Based on the PEA, for a period of the first five years, Indonesia will purchase 50 MW of electricity at the LWBP time and 230 MW at the WBP time from Malaysia.
In the coming five years, PLN will be able to sell electricity to Malaysia.
The PEA also regulates the obligation of the two countries to build 275 kV Sutet networks along 127 kilometers (km), which stretch 83 km within West Kalimantan and 45 km within the Serawak region.
Agung noted that West Kalimantan was now facing a deficit of some 30 MW of electricity as it currently needs 240 MW.
"The import of 50 MW of electricity from Malaysia will cover the shortage in West Kalimantan and will overcome the problem of power outages that have often occurred during the past two years," Agung emphasized.
He said West Kalimantan is also now awaiting a steam-powered plant (PLTU) or PLTU Kalbar 1, with a capacity of 2 x 50 MW; PLTU Kalbar 2, with a capacity of 2 x 27.5 MW; and PLTU Kalbar 3, with a capacity of 2 x 55 MW, which is now under construction, to become operational.
Agung pointed out that if the PLTUs, with a capacity of 265 MW, become operational, the possibility of West Kalimantan exporting electricity to Serawak through the same Sutet networks is not ruled out.
After all, the two countries have already initiated the PEA agreement, which enables Indonesia to export electricity.
Yet, at the early stage, Indonesia had begun importing electricity from Malaysia after the interconnection power grid between the two countries was completed on January 20, 2016.
Agung remarked on Thursday that the power supply from Malaysia was channeled through an extra-high voltage transmission system (Sutet), with a capacity of 275 kV. It is operated by the Bengkayang Substation (Gitet) in West Kalimantan and the Membong Gitet in Serawak of Sesco.
"This interconnection has undergone several trial tests," stated the PLN spokesman.
According to Murdifi, in the first phase, Sesco will distribute 10 megawatts (MW) of electricity and will be increased gradually to 50 MW by the end of March 2016.
Sesco will then regularly supply 50 MW of electricity beyond the peak hours (LWBP) and 230 MW during the peak hours (WBP).
He claimed that through the import of electricity, PLN would be able to save Rp3.5 billion per day as it would help reduce its basic cost from Rp2,700 per kilowatt hour (kWh) to Rp1,700 per kWh.
Agung further elaborated that the West Kalimantan-Serawak power interconnection network is part of the ASEAN Power Grid, which will connect the electricity networks of all ASEAN member countries.
"The West Kalimantan-Serawak power grid is the first of its kind for Indonesia and PLN. It was the first project of its kind for the Malaysian Sesco," the PLN official pointed out.
He remarked that the initiative to build the electricity interconnection network was initially put forth during the first forum of the Head of ASEAN Power system Utilities Association (HAPUA).
"The ASEAN Power Grid memorandum of understanding was signed in Singapore in 2007," he noted.
He said that the electricity integration system was also one of the targets of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).
The ASEAN is aware of the fact that power infrastructure plays a crucial role in the efforts to boost economic growth and create prosperity, Agung remarked.***3***(A014/INE)
EDITED BY INE(T.A014/A/BESSR/A. Abdussalam) 22-01-2016 15:52:2 |
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