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)