Ngurah Rai To Become Environmentally Friendly Airport

Nusa Dua, Bali, Oct 8 (Antara) - By using solar power, Bali`s Ngurah Rai International Airport will become one of the world`s environmentally friendly aerodromes, an official said on Tuesday. "All solar panels are expected to be installed at the airport by at least early 2015 because we will be commencing a feasibility study at the end of this year," PT Angkasa Pura I Corporate Secretary Farid Indra Nugraha revealed while signing a cooperation agreement with the Sintesa Group-SunEdison at the Grand Nikko Hotel on Tuesday. The collaboration is part of the framework used in green technology, which will be initiated by the U.S. Commercial Services. Meanwhile, Sintesa Group CEO Shinta Widjaja Kamdani said the solar panels capable of producing 15 megawatt (MW) of electricity will be installed at the Ngurah Rai Airport with an investment of US$45 million. She further pointed out that using solar panels will help reduce the use of electricity generated from fossils. "It is expected to reduce carbon emissions by up to 200,000 tons," Kamdani stated. In addition to the Ngurah Rai Airport, airports in Surabaya, Makassar and Balikpapan are also expected to be converted into environment friendly airports later.