N. Sumatra faces power crisis: Official<\/p>\n
MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): North Sumatra has been short of
\npower for a year and is seeking ways to rent power generators
\nfrom other power plants and private companies operating in the
\nprovince to fill the demand for electricity until 2002.<\/p>\n
Syamrasosia, the director of state-owned electricity company
\n(PLN) for the North Sumatra region, said here on Wednesday that a
\ndeal with the dormant PT Inti Indorayon Utama (PT IIU) was about
\nto be made.<\/p>\n
He told The Jakarta Post after meeting with the provincial
\nlegislature that he also wanted to rent generators from the
\nAsahan hydroelectric plant, Sibayak and Sarulla geothermal power
\nplants as well as the Sibolga coal-fired power plant.<\/p>\n
"Now that the company (PT IIU) is not operating, we want its
\npower generator, which has a capacity of 25 megawatts,
\ntransferred to the PLN network and supplied to consumers,"
\nSyamrasosia said, referring to the company's pulp industry in
\nPorsea, whose operation was suspended for environmental reasons.<\/p>\n
To date, PLN fully depends on its seven power stations, of
\nwhich its total installation capacity of 1,245.06 megawatts can
\ngenerate only 779 megawatts a day.<\/p>\n
This year, assuming the lowest growth in power demand is 5
\npercent, PLN will lack 25 megawatts a day because the province
\nwill need a total of 804 megawatts a day.<\/p>\n
"Next year, assuming there is low growth in future electricity
\ndemand, the power shortage will reach 34 megawatts a day because
\nthe province will need 898 megawatts a day while the real supply
\nwill be only 864 megawatts. That's why an additional supply will
\nbe needed," Syamrasosia said.<\/p>\n
North Sumatra PLN had imposed power blackouts on Medan,
\nBinjai, Pematang Siantar, South Tapanuli, Sibolga and Rantau
\nPerapat, from July 4 to July 14 due to the breakdown of a turbine
\nat the Sicanang coal-fired power station in Belawan.<\/p>\n
Damage to the turbine drastically reduced the power supply to
\n200 megawatts a day.<\/p>\n
Repairs to the turbine have been expected to take about eight
\nmonths, however, Syamrasosia told the legislature on Wednesday
\nthat repair work was completed on July 13, "and the power supply
\nreturned to normal on July 14". (42\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/n-sumatra-faces-power-crisis-official-1447893297",
"image": ""
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