PAL delivers turbines

JAKARTA (JP): The state-owned shipbuilding company PT PAL has delivered three turbines to the Suralaya steam power station in West Java.

"The three turbines, which will be used for units V, VI and VII of the power station, are worth a total of US$26.25 million," PAL's director of production, Arief Aini, said at a ceremony for the turbines' delivery in Surabaya, East Java, on Friday.

Each of the turbines can generate 600 Megawatts (MW). The three units are scheduled to start operating in 1997.

Arief said the turbines were made in cooperation with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan.

"We started producing electric turbines in 1986 for Suralaya's units III and IV, each with a generation capacity of 400 MW," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

Arief said that in 1991 PAL received orders from a power plant in Gresik, East Java, to make three 500 MW steam turbines, a gas turbine base, a heat exchanger and a pressure vessel.

He said the ceremony was also held to mark the 10th anniversary of PAL's accord with Mitsubishi.

In 1994, the two companies established a joint venture, called PT Possi, to manufacture and maintain turbines.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' president, Haruya Hiura, attended the Surabaya ceremony. (13)