Geothermal plant to boost electric supply on Bali<\/p>\n
Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali<\/p>\n
In the last few years, Bali has been struggling to increase its
\nelectricity supply to support its rapid growth, particularly in
\nthe tourism industry, garment and other industrial sectors as
\nwell as demands for domestic needs.<\/p>\n
The need for electricity has been rapidly increasing for the
\npast ten years along with the growth of industry and the growth
\nof the island's population, which is over 3.3 million citizens.<\/p>\n
It is unfortunate that Bali still depends on Java for much of
\nits electricity, which ranges between 350 Megawatts (MW) and 400
\nMW during peak hours.<\/p>\n
At present, Bali \"imports\" around 200 MW, or 40 percent of the
\ntotal supply, from Paiton Power Plant in East Java, which is
\ndistributed by an undersea cable in the Bali Strait, according to
\nA.A. Mustika, spokesman of PT PLN.<\/p>\n
The rest comes from \"domestic\" power stations at; PLTD
\nPesanggaran (75.82MW), PLTG Pesanggaran (125.5MW) and PLTG
\nGilimanuk (133.8 MW).<\/p>\n
\"Bali is very vulnerable because of its dependency upon power
\nfrom another island. It has less than 20 percent reserve from its
\nmaximum usage. Ideally, the electricity reserve should be more
\nthan 20 percent,\" he said.<\/p>\n
PT PLN has been engaged in numerous efforts to increase the
\ncapacity of its power plants in Bali and also to invite private
\nsector investors to develop new power plants on the island.<\/p>\n
In l995, for instance, the government had agreed to a develop
\nGeothermal Power Plant near the famous Bedugul resort in Tabanan
\nregency, around 24 kilometers north of Denpasar.<\/p>\n
Due to the 1997-1998 economic crisis, a large number of
\nstrategic projects, including Bedugul power plant, had to be
\nindefinitely postponed.<\/p>\n
During the inauguration of a number of Independent Power
\nProducer projects in Jepara, Central Java in July 2003, the
\ngovernment renegotiated the planned construction of several
\nrenewable electricity power plants, which also included Bedugul.<\/p>\n
Previously, the government issued a new law on energy giving
\nthe authority to the provincial administration to manage its own
\nenergy as well as to develop alternative energy resources.<\/p>\n
Based on the new law, the Bali provincial administration
\ndecided to resume the development of the Bedugul power plant.
\nThe Bali government has appointed Bali Energy Ltd., in
\ncooperation with PT Pertamina to develop the project.<\/p>\n
IB Ngurah Wijaya, president director of Bali Energy, is very
\noptimistic about the project's prospects. He said with a US$46.7
\ninvestment, Bedugul will be able to provide an estimated 10 MW
\nwhen the project is completed by April 2006.<\/p>\n
\"Currently, we are working on drilling three wells in the
\nlocation to explore the capacity of each well to produce
\nelectricity,\" explained Ngurah during a seminar here recently.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Sukusen Soemarinda, general manager of geothermal
\nprojects at Pertamina, added that by June 2010, Bedugul power
\nplant could be able to supply around 175 MW to PLN.<\/p>\n
The supply will be divided into four stages depending of the
\nexploration results. The first stage will be 10 MW, the second
\nstage will comprise of 55 MW (in 2008) and the rest will be
\nimplemented in the third stage (2009) and the fourth stage,
\nexplained Soemarinda.<\/p>\n
It is estimated that Bedugul power plant has geothermal
\npotential capable of producing a maximum of some 350 MW to 400
\nMW, almost 100 percent of the island's current maximum demand.<\/p>\n
Mastika admitted that the development of Bedugul power plant
\nwould certainly help PT PLN in providing for the island. Bali has
\ngreat geothermal potential, which can be processed into abundant
\nelectric energy, Mastika said.<\/p>\n
\"At present, PT PLN doesn't have enough money to develop new
\npower plants. With Bedugul's development (by private investors),
\nwe can use our money for other needs,\" he explained.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, he said, geothermal energy is environmentally
\nfriendly. Compared to other electricity power plants which use
\nother systems, geothermal plants will cause minimum impacts on
\nits surroundings, he said.<\/p>\n
In regard to environmental impact, I Made Suarnata, director
\nof Wisnu Environmental Foundation, strongly urged those involved
\nin the development of the Bedugul power plant to be transparent.<\/p>\n
\"They have to clearly inform the people on the possible
\nenvironmental impacts, which may appear during the construction
\nand operation of that power plant,\" Suarnata said.<\/p>\n
The people, especially those living adjacent to the project,
\nhe said, must clearly understand both the benefits and the
\ndisadvantages of having such a power plant.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, the foundation has yet to collect additional
\ndata and information regarding the construction of the geothermal
\npower plant.<\/p>\n
\"However small, the development of such a huge project will
\ncause environmental damage to the area,\" Suarnata said.<\/p>\n
Bedugul resort is a cool area, home to three pristine lakes,
\nBedugul, Beratan and Bunyan lakes. Bedugul is located between
\nTabanan and Buleleng regencies.<\/p>\n
Suarnatha added that he feared that the water level of Beratan
\nLake could be reduced significantly, and that would have a wider
\nimpact, because the water from the lake is one of the important
\nwater sources for the entire Subak traditional irrigation system.<\/p>\n
Atik Suardy, a geologist from Bali Energy, admitted that for
\nits initial exploration, the project would need water from other
\nsources. \"But, when it is already operating, they will use ground
\nwater from the wells.\"<\/p>\n
According to IB Cakra Sudarsana, head of Bali's Public Works
\nAgency, the negotiating price set by Bali Energy and PT Pertamina
\nwould be US$5.5 cent per Kwh.<\/p>\n
\"This will be significant for consumers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Soemarinda explained that the price of electric energy from
\nBedugul power plant would be 7 percent cheaper than the current
\nprice set by PLN. It is hoped that consumers will benefit from
\nthis new price.<\/p>\n
Currently, PLN charges Rp 620 per Kwh. PLN is now providing
\nelectricity to 600,000 customers across Bali. He said PLN pays Rp
\n637 from Paiton power plant. This means, PLN still provides a
\nsubsidy of Rp 17 per Kwh.<\/p>\n
When Bedugul power plant is completed, PLN will likely pay
\nless money for energy. Yet, it does not necessarily mean that the
\nprice for consumers could be reduced immediately, Mastika said.<\/p>\n
\"We may use the margin price for various maintenance projects
\nin order to improve our services for the customers,\" he
\nexplained.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/geothermal-plant-to-boost-electric-supply-on-bali-1447893297",
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