By Nova Farida
The PLTP Muara Laboh geothermal power plant project in Solok Selatan, West Sumatra Province, owned by geothermal power producer PT Supreme Energy, is expected to start commercial operation in December, according to a senior government official.
Director of Geothermal at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Ida Nuryatin Finahari said on Thursday that the 80 MW power plant is currently undergoing commissioning test.
“The COD (commercial operation date) schedule if I’m not mistaken in on December 9. It’s currently undergoing synchronization process which normally takes about three months before COD,” Ida said.
Read also: PLTP Muara Laboh expected to start operating in November
Supreme is believed to have spent US$600 million in developing the PLTP Muara Laboh project, of which about $450 million came from lenders including Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and an infrastructure fund.
Ida said that aside from PLTP Muara Laboh, there are two other geothermal power plants which already started operation this year. They include a 55 MW PLTP Mulut Balai in Muara Enim Regency, South Sumatra Province, owned by PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy, which started operation early September; and a 40 MW PLTP Sorik Merapi Unit 1 owned by PT Sorik Merapi Geothermal Power, in Mandailing Natal, North Sumatra Province, which started operation on September 30.
With the operation of the three geothermal power plants, total installed geothermal power plant capacity in the country will increase to 2,045.6 MW.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak
