Small Scale Grid-Interconnected Hydro Power Plant Inaugurated

KAMIS, 12 JULI 2007 12:00 WIB

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Purnomo Yusgiantoro, inaugurated the operation of 25 kW micro hydro power plant (PLTMH) in Adat Susunan village, Karangasem, Bali, on Wednesday (11/07). The management of the PLTMH was also handed over from PT PLN to village unit cooperative (KUD). The electricity generated from this PLTMH is interconnected to Jawa-Bali system.

According to Mr. Purnomo, the management of PLTMH by local people (through cooperative) is a good model for other places in Indonesia in meeting local need for electricity from on site renewable energy reserves. Minister Purnomo also described that since 1997, when economic crisis hit Indonesia, almost no new power plant developed although the demand continues to increase. This situation causes electricity crisis in some places. However, the Government and PT PLN do all measures to mitigate the crisis through, among others, optimizing all energy potential to be converted into electricity. For rural electrification, the Government through the State Budget provides around IDR 4.5 trillion yearly especially on renewable energy based-power plant such as micro hydro, solar and wind. This measure is part of the national target to increase electrification ratio which currently stands at around 55% and expected to increase to around 95% in 2025 or even sooner.

(BAGUS BUDIARTO)

sumber http://www.esdm.go.id/