P

resident Susilo Bambang Yu-dhoyono will inaugurate the Labuhan Angin steam power plant in Sibolga, North Sumatra and another plant in Banten on Jan. 28, an official from state power company PT PLN said Friday.

PLN operations director Bambang Soesanto said the inauguration ceremony for both plants would be held in Banten.

"We are preparing for the inaugurations. The North Sumatra go-vernor and I will be linked via teleconference to the President at the Labuhan Angin power plant," Bambang told reporters after meeting North Sumatra Governor Syamsul Arifin on Friday.

The Labuhan Angin plant will have a capacity of 230 megawatts.

Bambang said the power crisis in North Sumatra would cease and that PLN was optimistic there would no longer be blackouts in the province when Labuhan Angin commenced operation.

The current installed power capacity in North Sumatra is 1,357 megawatts, while the peak load is 1,251 megawatts.

He added the supply of electricity in North Sumatra, which has been intermittent in the last several months, would be restored at month-end after repairs at two power stations in Belawan were completed.

He added that PLN was also completing construction of the Belawan steam power plant and the Asahan hydro power station in Toba Samosir regency to prepare for supply shortages in the province.

Bambang said the 105-megawatt Belawan plant would be completed in February, while the 180-megawatt Asahan plant would be completed in March.

However, he said additional power reserves would be used up due to the long waiting list of new PLN customers.

A solution to this issue, Bambang said, would be to build a number of lower capacity plants to reach remote areas, such as Nias Island and Aceh.

"PLN hopes local administrations will be involved in developing these projects," he said.