Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Investors welcome new electricity regulations

| Source: JP
Investors welcome new electricity regulations

JAKARTA (JP): The government's new policy requiring private
companies to set up joint ventures with subsidiaries of the
state-owned electricity company PLN in developing power plants
would not pose a problem to investors, an official said
yesterday.

Firdaus Akmal, president of PT PLN Pembangkitan Listrik Jawa
Bali I (PJB I), one of PLN's subsidiaries, said here yesterday
that investors needed their involvement.

"They (the investors) are now searching for us because (they
know) if they join with us they can at least minimize business
risks," Firdaus said.

"They know PLN is the most experienced power plant operator in
this country," he added.

Director General of Electricity and Energy Development Endro
Notodisuryo said earlier the government had made a new policy to
tie up with PLN's subsidiaries -- PT Pembangkitan Listrik Jawa
Bali I or PT Pembangkitan Listrik Jawa Bali II -- in developing
power plants in the country.

The equity participation of PLN's subsidiaries in private
power companies is needed to ensure that private power generators
will not set prices too high, Endro said.

The new ruling became effective in April this year.

The government also introduced a new ruling in which PLN will
only sign an agreement to buy power from privately run coal-fired
power plants at prices less than 6 U.S. cents per kilowatt hour
(Kwh). The ruling became effective in April this year.

Firdaus said at least three investors had approached PJB I to
form joint ventures to develop three separate power plants in the
country.

"We target to own about 30 percent stake in any joint venture
so that we can place our men in management," said Firdaus.

Firdaus promised that PJP I would fight for a "reasonable"
price in its joint venture with private companies.

"The prices will be about 5.4 and 5.6 U.S. cents per Kwh for
coal-fired power plants," he said.

PLN has signed 25 power purchase agreements with private power
companies, under which PLN will buy power from them at prices of
between 5.75 U.S. cents and 8 U.S. cents per kwh.

The Tanjung Jati A power plant which is under construction in
Jepara, Central Java, sells its power at the lowest price of 5.74
U.S. cents per Kwh. In comparison, the Paiton I coal-fired power
plant in East Java will sell its power at 8.56 U.S. cents in its
first six years of operation.

PLN currently sells power to the public for 5.9 U.S. cents per
Kwh. (jsk)
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