Power plant gets successful trial

PALU, Central Sulawesi: The Central Sulawesi provincial government successfully tested a wind-powered electricity power plant with a capacity of 500 watts.

The trial cost the provincial government Rp 32 million (US$3,555), an official said on Tuesday.

The head of the mining and energy office in the province, Oscar Panjaitan, said the wind-powered plant was much cheaper than diesel or water-powered power plants.

After the test, similar plants will be introduced to remote areas currently out of reach of the conventional electricity power grid, he said.

Central Sulawesi Governor Aminuddin Ponulele said with more Central Sulawesi residents in need of electricity, wind-powered power plants could fill the void in remote areas.

The total number of customers of state electricity company PT PLN in the province is 168,671. Another 11,837 people are waiting for the state electricity company to connect them to the power grid, said Aminuddin. -- JP