Govt To Inaugurated Energy Projects In October

Jakarta, Sept 12 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to inaugurate several projects in the energy sector before he ends his second term of office on October 20 this year. The President will spontaneously inaugurate all the electricity, oil and gas projects in Cepu, Central Java, next month, Director General of Electricity at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Jarman said here on Friday. The electricity projects include eight thermal power plants (PLTU) such as PLTU Nagan Raya, PLTU Riau, PLTU Tanjung Awar-Awar, and PLTU Lombok. The President will also lay the first cornerstone for the construction of geothermal power plant (PLTU) Sarulla and inaugurate the operation of PLTU Patuba. The oil and gas projects include the additional production of Cepu Block at 10,000 barrels per day and the operation of Gresik-Semarang transmission pipeline. Jarman said he discussed the planned inauguration of several projects with acting Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Chairul Tanjung during his first meeting with senior officials of the ministry on Thursday. "The minister has ordered the immediate substitution of fuel oil with other energy to generate electricity," he said. The government has originally planned to inaugurate the projects in mid September 2014 but put the plan on hold after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named former energy and mineral resources minister Jero Wacik a suspect in an extortion case on September 3. On September 5, Jero Wacik submitted a letter of resignation to President Yudhoyono. President Yudhoyono appointed Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Chairul Tanjung as acting energy and mineral resources minister on September 9.