PT Inalum Prepares To Build Steam Power Plant

Medan, North Sumatra, Nov 24 (Antara) - PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum) is making the necessary preparations to build a coal-fired steam power plant to boost energy supply in order to increase the company`s aluminum production and to support other programs. The company`s president director, Winardi, informed Antara here on Monday that his company has already chalked out several development programs following the takeover of its operations from a Japanese consortium. The programs encompass processing bauxite ore into alumina, which is the raw material for aluminum production, and aluminum into various products such as electrical wires, alloys, and automotive spare parts. To support the development program, Inalum would require uninterrupted supply of energy for the production process, he emphasized, adding that the existing hydropower plant is only able to supply 553 megawatts of electricity to Inalum. In the meantime, Inalum has recently been requested to direct 90 megawatts of its supply to the state-owned electricity company PLN to boost electricity supply in North Sumatra, he reported. In view of that, the company located in the district of Batubara plans to build a coal-fired steam power plant, which will be located within the Inalum area, he affirmed. He said the plant is expected to produce up to a thousand megawatts of electricity, and the work on the project is expected to be completed within five years. Winardi stated that the project is important to support the realization of various programs to increase production and Inalum`s future development programs. He expressed belief that the project, on an 80-hectare plot of land, would be successful as the land to be used belongs to the Asahan Authority, which is also committed to developing Inalum. "So, no significant problems will be faced. Its success depends upon us and the Asahan Authority," he added.