President: LNG Power Plant Technology Saves Rp4 Billion per Day

Bali, InfoPublik - Mini Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) Technology in the renewable energy power plants, a collaboration project of PT Pelindo, PLN, and Pertamina, is claimed to able to save billions of rupiah per day.

"This technology replaces the use of diesel with gas and is able to save Rp4 billion a day. This is very efficient. If proven to be effective, the use of diesel technology in other islands will gradually be replaced by gas," said President Joko Widodo, as stated in ksp.go.id website.

The President visited Bali on Saturday (6/11) to observe 200 MW Diesel/Gas Pesanggaran Power Plant (PLTDG) with supplies received from mini LNG of generation units owned by PT Indonesia Power’s Bali Generation and Generation Services Unit (UPJP) and Benoa LNG Mini Terminal.

President Joko Widodo stated that the construction of PLTDG can be performed faster than the Steam/Coal Power Plant which takes four to five years to build. “PLTDG takes seven to eight months to complete, so it's fast," he said.

The Government has allocated Rp2 trillion for renewable energy power plants project in Bali. "First, we want to accelerate; second, we want more efficient budgeting; and third, we want to note the importance of renewable energy issue,” said the President.

Such projects is expected to contribute in the acceleration of Government's target in the national electricity supply with a combined financing scheme between SOEs and private companies. 

Pesanggaran PLTDG consists of four blocks of which has three units of machine, and is designed for three types of fuel, namely High Speed Diesel (HSD), Marine Fuel Oil (MFO), and Gas. PLTDG project built by Consortium Wartsila - PT PP started its operation on April 4, 2015 for block 1 and was fully operated for all blocks on June 5, 2015. With the gas supply from mini LNG, the primary fuel for the plant is gas, while HSD and MFO are only used as a backup. The use of LNG can save fuel consumption of up to 323 million per year.

"PLN will continue to support government programs in the field of environment and renewable energy. This is evidenced by the other benefits found in  using Mini LNG for 200 MW Pesanggaran PLTDG which could save operating costs up to $60 billion per year," said PLN President Director Sofyan Basir in his speech. 

PLN also believed that with Pesanggaran PLTDG being supplied by mini LNG, electricity supply in Java-Bali can be improved while maintaining the use of clean energy. (Translator: Siti Chodijah)