Germany offers RI power training

JAKARTA (JP): The German state of Schleswig-Holstein is offering Indonesia a training and workshop program in the use of wind power energy as the demand for electricity has been increasing steadily in Indonesia.

"We plan a workshop on wind energy power plants. We send a lot of experts from Schleswig-Holstein to Jakarta, organizing the workshop because it may be of interest for Indonesia due to the increasing electricity demand and decentralizing power station," Minister of Economics of Schleswig-Holstein, Peer Steinbruch, told a press conference yesterday.

He said Indonesia might be interested in wind as an endless energy resource.

"We will extend skills for constructing or building wind test fields in Indonesia," he said.

According to Steinbruch, the first step in installing a wind energy power plant is to discover the circumstances and conditions around the planned plant, which can be learned in Schleswig-Holstein.

"We are very glad offering Indonesian experts to come to Schleswig-Holstein, to gain skills and qualification and then go back to Indonesia to find out where wind power plants can be established," he said.

"I would like to support a pilot project, a real and concrete wind power plant in Indonesia."

Steinbruch is in Indonesia for a four-day official visit, leading a delegation of 25 businessmen who represent major industries of Schleswig-Holstein. During his visit here, Steinbruch met with a number of Indonesia's cabinet ministers, including Minister of Industry Tunky Ariwibowo, State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie and State Minister of Investment Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo. He is scheduled to leave for Singapore today.

He also said that Sihi Group, a member of his delegation, signed an agreement with local businessmen to set up a pump manufacturing plant in Indonesia.

Peter Welsch-Lehmann, Sihi's shareholder, said that the joint venture will be 60 percent owned by his company and 40 percent by two Indonesian firms -- PT Karya Hutama and PT Setia Simpati.

He said that the US$2.2 million plant is scheduled to start operation next year. (icn)