GORONTALO. The Gorontalo administration has promised to speed up electricity projects to get the province’s approximately 1 million inhabitants out of their current, prolonged power crisis by 2017 at the latest. The construction of a 50-megawatt steam-power plant (PLTU) in Anggrek district, North Gorontalo regency, according to Gorontalo Governor Rusli Habibie, will be accelerated so it can start operating by December this year. “For the initial stage, a 25-MW generator will be operated, because of a redesign of the boiler, considering Gorontalo is prone to quakes,” said Rusli after inspecting the Anggrek PLTU over the weekend. The construction of the other 25-MW generator, he added, would be accelerated and carried out simultaneously with the development of the coal port. The Anggrek PLTU project commenced in 2007, but it stalled at one point because of a land dispute with land owners and because of the hilly contours of the location. The construction progress of the PLTU project has reached only 10 percent, but Rusli was optimistic it would be completed on time, keeping in mind the materials and labor needed are already at the site. Currently, Gorontalo is facing a deficit of between 10 and 15 megawatts during peak load period. Gorontalo, made up of six regencies and cities, needs at least 70 megawatts of power, but the diesel power plants in the province only supply 50 megawatts. So far, Gorontalo’s power deficit has been slightly facilitated because of the Gorontalo-North Sulawesi power interconnection system. A day after inspecting the Anggrek PLTU, Rusli held a meeting with state power firm PT PLN Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua Parent Development Unit XII general manager Herwiandono. Both parties discussed the planned construction of the 100-MW gas power plant (PLTG) and the 100-MW Floating Vessel PLTG in Paguat, Pohuwato regency. During the meeting at the governor’s residence on Thursday, both parties discussed work schedules and authority-sharing of the projects. The high-output PLTGs will commence construction in May this year and are expected to be completed by the year’s end. PT PLN expects land acquisition will begin in April this year at the latest. “If the environmental permit could be issued at the end of April, the land acquisition process could be carried out until May 2015,” said Herwiandono. In response to the matter, Rusli ensured a quick licensing and administrative process. (Syamsul Huda M. Suhari)
Gorontalo speeds up electricity projects
GORONTALO. The Gorontalo administration has promised to speed up electricity projects to get the province’s approximately 1 million inhabitants out of their current, prolonged power crisis by 2017 at the latest. The construction of a 50-megawatt steam-power plant (PLTU) in Anggrek district, North Gorontalo regency, according to Gorontalo Governor Rusli Habibie, will be accelerated so it can start operating by December this year. “For the initial stage, a 25-MW generator will be operated, because of a redesign of the boiler, considering Gorontalo is prone to quakes,” said Rusli after inspecting the Anggrek PLTU over the weekend. The construction of the other 25-MW generator, he added, would be accelerated and carried out simultaneously with the development of the coal port. The Anggrek PLTU project commenced in 2007, but it stalled at one point because of a land dispute with land owners and because of the hilly contours of the location. The construction progress of the PLTU project has reached only 10 percent, but Rusli was optimistic it would be completed on time, keeping in mind the materials and labor needed are already at the site. Currently, Gorontalo is facing a deficit of between 10 and 15 megawatts during peak load period. Gorontalo, made up of six regencies and cities, needs at least 70 megawatts of power, but the diesel power plants in the province only supply 50 megawatts. So far, Gorontalo’s power deficit has been slightly facilitated because of the Gorontalo-North Sulawesi power interconnection system. A day after inspecting the Anggrek PLTU, Rusli held a meeting with state power firm PT PLN Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua Parent Development Unit XII general manager Herwiandono. Both parties discussed the planned construction of the 100-MW gas power plant (PLTG) and the 100-MW Floating Vessel PLTG in Paguat, Pohuwato regency. During the meeting at the governor’s residence on Thursday, both parties discussed work schedules and authority-sharing of the projects. The high-output PLTGs will commence construction in May this year and are expected to be completed by the year’s end. PT PLN expects land acquisition will begin in April this year at the latest. “If the environmental permit could be issued at the end of April, the land acquisition process could be carried out until May 2015,” said Herwiandono. In response to the matter, Rusli ensured a quick licensing and administrative process. (Syamsul Huda M. Suhari)
