PLN secures power supply with new Paiton transformer

PLN secures power supply with new Paiton transformer

PAITON, East Java (JP): State-owned electricity company PLN
will install a second giant transformer to secure the electricity
supply from Paiton power complex into the Java and Bali power
grids.

PLN's operation chief of East Java and Nusatenggara Power
Network and Generation, Willem D. Huwae, said here Thursday the
transformer would be installed to anticipate an increased
generation capacity from the Paiton power complex, near
Probolinggo, East Java.

"With two transformers, we will be more secure about the
supply of power from Paiton to the Java-Bali interconnection
since we can use them alternately, or have a reserve in case one
is out of order," Willem said.

The 306-ton transformer was unloaded at Paiton jetty Thursday
after six weeks at sea en route from Europe, and: "the
installment will be completed in two months," said Willem.

The transformer was made by Austria's biggest electric company
ELIN and sold here by Austrodwipa Energy.

It is the second three-phase 500 kilovolts (kV) transformer in
Indonesia. The first, also at Paiton, was made by Asia Brown
Bovary (ABB) of Switzerland.

The US$10 million ELIN transformer had a combined capacity of
1,500 megawatts (MW), said Austrodwipa project engineer Roy
Sarumpaet.

"The new transformer will greatly reduce the possibility of
there being trouble in the supply of power to the Java-Bali
grid," Roy said, adding the equipment had a 10 years to 15 years
lifespan but could be then overhauled and re-used.

He said the transformer would be installed as part of a US$60
million PLN contract won by Austrodwipa last year to install 17
transformers in four locations; Cawang, East Jakarta; Cirebon,
West Java; South Surabaya, East Java and Paiton.

Roy said the transformer purchase was 85 percent financed with
loans from the Austrian Financing Bank and 15 percent by the
state budget.

A huge coal-fired power compound is being developed on 400
hectares at Paiton. The site will have four power plants, with
eight generation units resulting in a combined capacity of 4,000
MW.

PLN operates two coal-fired power plants -- called unit 1 and
unit 2 -- with a combined capacity of 800 MW, while two joint
foreign ventures, PT Paiton Energy Co and PT Jawa Power, are each
building two power units with a capacity of 600 MW per unit.

PT Paiton Energy is developing units 7 and unit 8. It is
jointly owned by PT Batu Hitam Perkasa of Indonesia (controlled
by Hashim Djojohadikusumo), General Electric and Mission Energy
of the United States, and Mitsui Co Ltd of Japan.

Willem said unit 7 will start operating in Dec. 1998 and unit
8 in July 1999.

PT Jawa Power is building unit 5 and unit 6. It is jointly
owned by PT Bumipertiwi Tatapradipta of Indonesia -- a subsidiary
of the Bimantara group -- Siemens AG of Germany and PowerGen Plc
of Britain.

Unit 5 and unit 6 are due to be completed in 1999 and 2000
respectively.

Willem said PLN planned to build unit 3 and unit 4, each with
a 400 MW capacity, but a timetable for the plan had not been
drafted. (jsk)