Suralaya's power unit operational

JAKARTA (JP): State-owned electricity company PLN has commenced operations of the seventh unit of its coal-fired Suralaya power complex in West Java, bringing the plant's total capacity to 3,400 Megawatts (MW).

PLN construction director Rahardjo Mucharar officially connected the new power unit Tuesday to the Java-Bali power grid.

"With the operation of the seventh power unit, the Suralaya power plant now becomes the country's largest power plant," Suralaya power plant project head Ilham Risjad was quoted by Antara as saying.

He said the Suralaya power plant, including the 600 MW seventh power unit, accounted for 30 percent of the total power transmitted through the Java-Bali power grid, which at present has a 9,500 MW capacity.

The first and second power units, each with 400 MW capacity, started operation in 1984. The third and fourth units, also with a capacity of 400 MW each, came on stream in 1989.

The fifth and sixth units, each with a 600 MW capacity, came on stream last year and early this year respectively.

Ilham said PLN had spent about US$1.35 billion to develop the fifth, sixth and seventh unit plants as well as a jetty for coal transportation.

The $1.35 billion investment included PLN's own funds and loans from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, he said.

PLN bought coal from state-owned mining company PT Tambang Batubara for Rp 67,000 a ton for its first four units and Rp 54,000 a ton for its last three units.

The coal price for the last three power units was cheaper because the latest coal supply was tendered, he said, adding that Suralaya's seven power units needed 12 million tons of coal a year. (jsk)