PLN to Prioritizes Development of Renewable Energy in NTT

Kupang, NTT (Antara) - The General Manager of Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) of East Nusatenggara branch Richard Safkaur said the state power utility company will prioritize development of renewable energy in that region. PLN would opt for development of hydroelectric , solar, geothermal or biomass energy for local consumption, Richard said here on Saturday. He said power plants using oil for fuel would be phased out to be replaced with ones generating renewable energy to reduce the need to import of crude oil such as from Middle East. He said in April and May alone PLN already operated three new units of steam powered electric and hydroelectric plants in West Timor and Central Flores. "In April , 2014, the NTT branch of PLN put into operation its first unit of steam powered electric plant (PLTU) in the province. The PLTU was built in Bolok designed to supply power for the sub-district of West Kupang in the regency of Kupang and to cope with crisis in power supply in the islands of Timor, Rote and Sabu in NTT." "As the operator of the facility I feel a bit relieved although only the first unit is in operation. The second unit is still in the trial operation . Hoefully it would soon also come on stream," he said. The operation of the first unit of PLTU Bolok saves PLN Rp300 million worth of oil fuel (BBM) per day for diesel power plants in Tenau and Kuanino . "So far the two diesel power plants had used 120 kiloliters of industrial diesel oil per day and repairs of the facility have often been needed resulting in frequent blackouts," he said Currently , power from PLTU Bolok with a capacity of 2 x 16.5 megawatts is channeled to a 14 MW system that there would be no blackout, he said. (*)