Coal key to one-third of new Indonesian power growth

Brisbane (Energy Publishing) - The Indonesian central government has disclosed that it is proposing more than 90 new electricity generation plants, with a gross output above 10,000MW, in its second crash program to upgrade the national power grid.

According to reports quoting the national energy ministry in Jakarta, 33% of the new generating capacity will come from coal-fired power plants – the largest single coal plant planed is the 1,000MW Indramayu installation in West Java.

The government wants independent power producers to provide 50% of the new power capability, using hydro, gas combined cycle and geothermal technology.

No strict completion schedule for the new – second – electricity development crash program has been locked in, but the timetable was five years for the just-completed first program.

Jakarta officials say that when a formal government decree for the new program is issued, government administrators will be able to start immediately on tendering and procurement processes.