Three ASEAN power grid projects ready to start

Three ASEAN power grid projects ready to start

Dow Jones, Bangkok

Three power transmission projects involving member countries
of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are ready to be
implemented as part of a plan to set up a transnational
electricity supply grid system, a senior official of an
Indonesian electricity company said on Wednesday.

Two of the projects are between Indonesia and Malaysia, while
the other is between Laos and Vietnam, said Eddie Widiono,
president director of Indonesia's state utility PT Perusahaan
Listrik Negara, or PLN.

The projects between Indonesia and Malaysia are expected to be
completed around 2007 and 2008, he said.

Under an initial study on ASEAN interconnection projects, a
transmission line between Sarawak state in East Malaysia and
Indonesia's West Kalimantan is expected to be completed in 2007.

Another transmission line between Peninsular Malaysia and
Indonesia's Sumatra island is expected to be completed in 2008.

The Vietnam-Laos transmission project is expected to be
completed around 2007.

According to Eddie, the transnational electricity supply grid
system among ASEAN member countries should be completed around
2010-2011, depending on the economic growth of the region.

He said three power transmission lines are currently in
operation - one between Thailand and Laos, one between Thailand
and Malaysia, and the other between Malaysia and Singapore.

The electricity supply grid system will help lower the cost of
power and optimally utilize the region's gas and coal resources.

Electricity demand in the region is expected to reach 120,970
megawatts in 2015, from an estimated 50,267 MW this year.

ASEAN comprises Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Brunei and Cambodia.