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ower-deficient Bali is to get a new “clean” coal power plant, after the Indonesian government signed a US$1.5 billion memorandum of understanding with two Chinese companies to approve the project at the ASEAN-China Energy Forum in China last week.

Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika told legislators from House of Representatives Commission IV on Thursday that the two investors — China Huadian Engineering Corporation Ltd and China Huadian Development — would restart the halted construction of a coal power plant in Celukan Bawang in Buleleng regency, North Bali.

The Celukan Bawang power plant is expected to go online in November, and reach a capacity of 340 Megawatts by 2012.

Pastika said the coal plant would incorporate desulphurization technology, which minimizes carbon dioxide emissions.

“Bali will only accept investors who promote environmentally friendly projects in line with our campaign to create a clean and green Bali,” the governor said.

During his visit to China, Pastika studied possibilities of inviting investors to build solar energy power plants on the holiday island.

Previously, the provincial administration rejected a proposal by Indonesia Power to develop a geothermal electricity power plant at the Batu Karu sacred area near Bedugul resort in Tabanan regency.

Balinese Hindus believe the gods of water and fertility reside in the area.

I Ketut Gede Dharma Putra, an environmental expert from the University of Udayana, said he was sorry the administration had signed the agreement with the two Chinese investors.

“Frankly, the two investors still utilize fossil fuel coal in their proposed projects despite their claims that their technology is environmentally sound,” Putra said.

Indonesia has abundant coal supplies.

Putra suggested the local government consider alternative energy sources that were more friendly
to the environment, such as solar and gas.

Bali is currently facing an electricity deficit. It receives a total electrical energy supply of about 562 Megawatts from the Gilimanuk, Pemaron and Pesanggaran power plants, as well as from a network of underwater power cables plugged into power stations in Java.

Not including the Celukan Bawang power plant, Bali expects to receive an additional supply of around 1,600 Megawatts through a new network of power cables to Java under the Bali Crossing Project.

— JP/Ni Komang Ervian