Power project ‘may threaten’ endangered Bali starling

Desy Nurhayati ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Denpasar, Bali   |  Tue, 11/17/2009 10:56 PM  |  National

The construction of high-voltage power lines connecting the East Java and Bali grids may pose a further threat to the critically endangered Bali starling, an ornithologist warned Tuesday.

The power lines, which are expected to boost the island’s electricity supply by 1,000 megawatts (MW), could pass over the West Bali National Park, a natural habitat for the bird.

Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) ornithologist Jarwadi B. Hernowo said the inevitable opening up of the park due to the project could lead to increased poaching of the starlings.

“There’s no guarantee that there won’t be any poaching of the birds or destruction of their habitat,” said Jarwadi, who recently did a study on the local starling population.

“It’s a security problem that threatens the species.”

The Bali Crossing project will transmit power from the Paiton plant in East Java to Bali, which currently has a supply of only 500 MW.

However, state electricity monopoly PT PLN has made assurances the project will not pass over the national park area, located on the western tip of Bali.

PLN Bali general manager Arifuddin Nurdin said transmission towers to support the cables would be installed along the periphery of the national park, without actually crossing into the protected area.

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