PLN TO BUILD 500-MW CAPACITY OF POWER PLANTS IN NTB

Mataram, Wes Nusa Tenggara, June 24 (Antara) - The Nusa Tenggara unit of the National Power Utility , PLN, said it will build a number of power generating plants with a total capacity of 500 megawatts in the region until 2018. The power plants would be needed to keep pace with growing requirement for power supply in West and East Nusa Tenggara, director of the unit Suradji said here on Tuesday. Suradji said the project is part of the 35,000 MW power plants to be built by the government in the country until 2019 It is part of the priority projects launched by the government to create security energy to support the country's economic development in general, he said. In West Nusa Tenggara a number of power generating projects would be built using renewable fuels in Lombok and Sumbawa. In Lombok , there will be a 150 MW combined cycle power plant (PLTGU) fueled with gas and steam , now already under construction in Bagik Kembar, Mataram. "Work is already in process for two months," Suradji said. Meanwhile, implementation of a mobile PLTGU project with a capacity of 50 MW is still in the process of feasibility study, he added. PLN will also build new units of steam powered electric plant (PLTU) of Lombok to be called PLTU Lombok 2 with a capacity of 100 MW and PLTU Lombok FPP 2 with the same capacity in the sub-district of Sambalia, regency of Lombok Timur. In the island of Sumbawa, PLN would build a power plant called PLTMG Sumbawa with a capacity of 50 MW in the sub-district of Labuhan Badas. A50 MW power plant with steam engine energy (PLTMU) would also be built on the island of Bima . "Therefore, Lombok will have new power plants with a capacity of 400 MW, and Sumbawa 100 MW. All projects are to be completed not later than 2-018," Suradji said. PLN hopes that the local people would give full support for the project implementaiton, he said. "PLN hopes that it would meet no much difficulty in carrying out the projects that would be in the interest of the people," he added. ***1*** (AS/o001)