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93228
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 19:14
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News Focus: RIGHT THINKING ANOTHER WAY TO SOLVE POWER CRISIS By Bustanuddin.
Jakarta, Dec 4 (ANTARA) - Amid official acknowledgments that State Electricity Company (PLN) is no longer able to meet the public's increasing need for power due to its limited capacity, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has come up with a way to solve the problem.
PLN had found it difficult to keep up with the people's need for power which is continuing to increase at a rate of between six and eight percent or between 2,000 and 3,000 megawatts per annum.
In a bid to help overcome the crisis, Yudhoyono at a get- together with provincial governors in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, on Wednesday night, among others, said there was a need for simplified thinking, including making an estimate of the existing power shortages, not by economic growth instruments and requests for power supply, but by taking stock of the real power needs of the provinces.
The president was in Palangkaraya to open a national working meeting of the All-Indonesia Provincial Governments Association (APPSI).
"I think it would be better that until December 2009 the shortages of each of the provinces are calculated to reach the final figure," he said, adding that if the power supply shortages had been found, measures could be taken to overcome the shortages next year.
The Head of State also said that if PLN`s capacity is limited, other measures had to be taken to meet the public's need, including through independent power sources.
"Now we will see how much PLN has, and do not force it. Encourage the independent power producers, let us make the calculations in our 100 days of work," the president said, referring to the priority of solving the crucial problem within the 100 days of work program.
In addition, the increase in demand for electricity supply has caused a power deficit which leads to power outages and rotating blackouts in different regions.
For 2010 alone, PLN will need at least Rp32 trillion in funds to improve national electricity supply. It also needs to offer a chance to other parties to help develop the country`s electricity.
Earlier, Central Kalimantan Governor Agustin Teras Narang said three things may be built in its area including the construction of coal-fired power plants, to meet the needs for power in the area.
According to Teras Narang in the future the area may even become a source of power for Java by way of a marine cable, so that coal is no longer sent to Java at such high cost.
In the meantime, PLN has planned to construct two main guardhouses for extra high voltage (GITET) in Jakarta as an effort to
secure the electricity supply in the capital city.
PLN General Manager for Jakarta and Tangerang Distribution, Purnomo Willy said on Thursday, both guardhouses will be located in Plumpang, North Jakarta and Duri Kosambi, West Jakarta.
"The capacity of each guardhouse is 2x500 megavolt ampere (MVA) or 2x400 MW," he said, explaining that his side has provided 6.5 hectares plot of land in Duri Kosambi, but still seeking a guardhouse location in Plumpang.
Willy said that the guardhouses construction is expected to begin in 2012 for a period of 18 months with some Rp9 trillion worth of funds, so it is scheduled to be operational in 2014.
Previously, PLN needed the funds for electricity supply security in Jakarta and its surrounding areas in addition to the two guardhouses construction totalling Rp5.6 trillion.
The additional funding was planned to increase the transformer capacity of GITET in Bekasi, Cawang, Gandul, Kembangan, and Muara Tawar.
The source of funding was among others from export credit worth Rp3 trillion, the PLN budget Rp800 billion, including from other sources, Willy said.
According to him, the electrical load in Jakarta and its environs grew by an average of five percent per year with the current peak load recorded 5,200 MW.
As a result, the load on the GITET transformer in Cawang, Bekasi, Gandul, and Kembangan since 2007 experienced a fairly critical load of up to 90 percent.
"The problem of electricity as a main infrastructure facility has to be overcome so that Indonesia`s economy will be able to compete in attracting investment," Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said after attending a seminar in Jakarta recently.
She said all surveys mentioned that matters relating to infrastructures such as electricity, gas and transportation facilities should be prepared.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday (Nov 17), President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono summoned a number of ministers to discuss the electricity problems the country has been experiencing of late.
Several ranking officials attended the meeting with the president were Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, State Enterprises Minister Mustafa Abubakar, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Darwin Saleh, state-owned electricity firm PLN`s President Director Fahmi Mochtar and Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo.
Before attending the meeting, Hatta Radjasa said the government was trying to formulate ways to find a comprehensive solution to the electricity problems. The solution would have to be for the short, medium and long terms.
He said with electricity consumption growing at six to eight percent or 2,000 - 3,000 MW per annum, it was impossible for PLN to cover the entire shortfall in power supplies.
"Therefore, we are encouraging independent power producers (IPP) to enter the electricity sector. But of the 50 existing IPPs, only about 20 percent can do it. Even so, the 20 percent are now also facing financial problems," he said.
In the meantime, Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo said many of the complaints about power cuts in Jakarta came from small and medium scale industries who did not have own generators.
"We have asked PLN to speed up finding a solution to the power problem. Now, a number of small and medium scale industries who have no generators, have stopped their businesses due to the power outages," the governor said.
The governor said the electricity blackouts were also often causing chaos in the streets of the capital because unoperating traffic lights always resulted in chaotic traffic jams.
In West Java and Banten provinces, rotating power blackouts
will certainly still take place until next December 22, 2009, said former General Manager of PT PLN Distribution department in West Java and Banten, Budiman H Bachrul Hayat on the end of November.
According to him, there is electricity supply deficit of about 600 MW while the existing reserves of about 300 megawatts.
People do hope that the power problem can be immediately overcome, so that the rotating power cuts will no longer happen. ***2***
(B003/A/HAJM/15:53/A/O001)
PLN had found it difficult to keep up with the people's need for power which is continuing to increase at a rate of between six and eight percent or between 2,000 and 3,000 megawatts per annum.
In a bid to help overcome the crisis, Yudhoyono at a get- together with provincial governors in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, on Wednesday night, among others, said there was a need for simplified thinking, including making an estimate of the existing power shortages, not by economic growth instruments and requests for power supply, but by taking stock of the real power needs of the provinces.
The president was in Palangkaraya to open a national working meeting of the All-Indonesia Provincial Governments Association (APPSI).
"I think it would be better that until December 2009 the shortages of each of the provinces are calculated to reach the final figure," he said, adding that if the power supply shortages had been found, measures could be taken to overcome the shortages next year.
The Head of State also said that if PLN`s capacity is limited, other measures had to be taken to meet the public's need, including through independent power sources.
"Now we will see how much PLN has, and do not force it. Encourage the independent power producers, let us make the calculations in our 100 days of work," the president said, referring to the priority of solving the crucial problem within the 100 days of work program.
In addition, the increase in demand for electricity supply has caused a power deficit which leads to power outages and rotating blackouts in different regions.
For 2010 alone, PLN will need at least Rp32 trillion in funds to improve national electricity supply. It also needs to offer a chance to other parties to help develop the country`s electricity.
Earlier, Central Kalimantan Governor Agustin Teras Narang said three things may be built in its area including the construction of coal-fired power plants, to meet the needs for power in the area.
According to Teras Narang in the future the area may even become a source of power for Java by way of a marine cable, so that coal is no longer sent to Java at such high cost.
In the meantime, PLN has planned to construct two main guardhouses for extra high voltage (GITET) in Jakarta as an effort to
secure the electricity supply in the capital city.
PLN General Manager for Jakarta and Tangerang Distribution, Purnomo Willy said on Thursday, both guardhouses will be located in Plumpang, North Jakarta and Duri Kosambi, West Jakarta.
"The capacity of each guardhouse is 2x500 megavolt ampere (MVA) or 2x400 MW," he said, explaining that his side has provided 6.5 hectares plot of land in Duri Kosambi, but still seeking a guardhouse location in Plumpang.
Willy said that the guardhouses construction is expected to begin in 2012 for a period of 18 months with some Rp9 trillion worth of funds, so it is scheduled to be operational in 2014.
Previously, PLN needed the funds for electricity supply security in Jakarta and its surrounding areas in addition to the two guardhouses construction totalling Rp5.6 trillion.
The additional funding was planned to increase the transformer capacity of GITET in Bekasi, Cawang, Gandul, Kembangan, and Muara Tawar.
The source of funding was among others from export credit worth Rp3 trillion, the PLN budget Rp800 billion, including from other sources, Willy said.
According to him, the electrical load in Jakarta and its environs grew by an average of five percent per year with the current peak load recorded 5,200 MW.
As a result, the load on the GITET transformer in Cawang, Bekasi, Gandul, and Kembangan since 2007 experienced a fairly critical load of up to 90 percent.
"The problem of electricity as a main infrastructure facility has to be overcome so that Indonesia`s economy will be able to compete in attracting investment," Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said after attending a seminar in Jakarta recently.
She said all surveys mentioned that matters relating to infrastructures such as electricity, gas and transportation facilities should be prepared.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday (Nov 17), President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono summoned a number of ministers to discuss the electricity problems the country has been experiencing of late.
Several ranking officials attended the meeting with the president were Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, State Enterprises Minister Mustafa Abubakar, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Darwin Saleh, state-owned electricity firm PLN`s President Director Fahmi Mochtar and Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo.
Before attending the meeting, Hatta Radjasa said the government was trying to formulate ways to find a comprehensive solution to the electricity problems. The solution would have to be for the short, medium and long terms.
He said with electricity consumption growing at six to eight percent or 2,000 - 3,000 MW per annum, it was impossible for PLN to cover the entire shortfall in power supplies.
"Therefore, we are encouraging independent power producers (IPP) to enter the electricity sector. But of the 50 existing IPPs, only about 20 percent can do it. Even so, the 20 percent are now also facing financial problems," he said.
In the meantime, Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo said many of the complaints about power cuts in Jakarta came from small and medium scale industries who did not have own generators.
"We have asked PLN to speed up finding a solution to the power problem. Now, a number of small and medium scale industries who have no generators, have stopped their businesses due to the power outages," the governor said.
The governor said the electricity blackouts were also often causing chaos in the streets of the capital because unoperating traffic lights always resulted in chaotic traffic jams.
In West Java and Banten provinces, rotating power blackouts
will certainly still take place until next December 22, 2009, said former General Manager of PT PLN Distribution department in West Java and Banten, Budiman H Bachrul Hayat on the end of November.
According to him, there is electricity supply deficit of about 600 MW while the existing reserves of about 300 megawatts.
People do hope that the power problem can be immediately overcome, so that the rotating power cuts will no longer happen. ***2***
(B003/A/HAJM/15:53/A/O001)
