National

Electricity Deficit Can Be Handled by PLN
Wednesday, 24 August, 2005 | 05:19 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The electricity deficit, which is assumed to have reached 655 megawatts, can be handled by the State Electricity Company (PLN).

PLN has obtained an additional supply of electricity from the gas fired combined cycle power plant (PLTGU) in Muara Karang, in addition to a reduction in electricity used by industry and economies carried out by customers.

Muljo Adji, PLN’s General Manager of the Load Distribution and Control Center, confirmed that there will be no rotating electricity blackouts implemented by PLN.

“The power requirements during peak load periods can still be met,” stated Adji in Jakarta.

Based on PLN data, the realization of power required during peak load hours between 5pm and 10 pm has reached 14,271 megawatts, less than the estimated 14,500 megawatts.

Meanwhile, the supplied capacity from power plants has increased from the earlier estimate of 13,845 megawatts.

This increase in capacity is due to the additional 200 megawatts supply of electricity from the Muara Karang power plant, including generating unit 2 (90 megawatts) and generating unit 5 (110 megawatts).

It was possible for the maintenance process of these two generating units to be sped up so that they could be operated prior to peak hours.

In addition, cooperation between PLN and industry to lessen the use of electricity was able to decrease the load to 200 megawatts, while customers are estimated to have saved around 26 megawatts.

PLN had previously announced the possibility of rotating electricity blackouts on Monday night (22/08) because the two major steam fired power plants at Suralaya and Paiton suffered several problems. (Retno Sulistyowati-Tempo News Room)