Suralaya's power unit operational

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)