C Kalimaantan Asks For Immediate Construction Of PLTA

Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, May 20 (ANTARA)- The provincial administration of Central Kalimantan asks for immediately implementation of the plan to build a major hydroelectric plant (PLTA)to cope with energy crisis in the province . The government plans to build the power plant with a capacity of 280 megawatts at the Muara Juloi dam in the regency of Murung Raya. If the power plant has been operational, Central Kalimantan would no longer face energy crisis, head of the provincial public works service Leonard Ampung said here on Monday. An agreement has been reached with a South Korean company to build the project, which would be one of the largest PLTAs in the country. Leonard said the provincial administration and the public works ministry has reached an agreement with Korea Midland Power to build the PLTA in Muara Juloi dam. The Korean company, however, is still in the process of carrying out feasibility study, he said. Therefore, no details have been available about the project including about the investment and when construction is to start, he said. "The project will be financed with fund from the state budget. The Central Kalimantan administration will contribute only by providing the location," he said. The Muara Juloi hydropower plant will have almost the same capacity as that of PLTA Waduk Jati Gede Sumedang in Java, but it would generate electricity 2.5 times larger, he said. The power plant will save Central Kalimantan from the inconvenience of frequent blackouts, he added.