Bali's power plants consume Rp 9.8 billion of fuel per day

The Jakarta Post ,  Denpasar   |  Fri, 05/02/2008 1:33 PM  |  Bali

Bali's biggest electricity plants consume a combined Rp 9.8 billion (US$10.8 million) of diesel fuel per day to cater for the island's demand of 6.452 Megawatts per hour (MWh), and official Wednesday said.

"Could you imagine, we virtually burn almost Rp 10 billion per day to meet the island's need for electricity," the spokesperson of the Bali branch of state-owned electricity company PT PLN Agung Mastika said.

The plants' diesel generators consume 1.4 million liters of diesel fuel per day.

"The fuel costs Rp 7,000 per liter. Multiply that amount by 1.4 million liters and we arrive at the total fuel cost of Rp 9.8 billion per day," he said as quoted by Antara.

Mastika said 60 percent of Bali's power was supplied by plants using diesel generators, including Pesanggaran plant in south Denpasar, which produces up to 152 MW, Gilimanuk in western Bali with 130 MW and Pemaron in north Bali with 80 MW.

Bali is dependent on power supplied by plants in Java, which transfer 200 MW to the island through a network of undersea cables.

However, the cables are prone to various disruptions, including heavy underwater currents. The cables were severed several times in the past, forcing authorities to set up a rotational black out system.

Mastika said the island's residents must find a way to use electricity in a more responsible and efficient manner.

"That's why we need a comprehensive effort, a public movement to stimulate the people to be more aware and to play more active roles in this matter," he said.

PT PLN, he said, had urged its customers to reduce daily consumption by minimum 50 watts, equal to 0.6 kilowatts per hour (kWh).

Were the company's 720,000 customers to achieve his goal, consumption could be decreased to 432,000 kWh, or equal to 144,000 liters less diesel fuel used.

"That amount of fuel would be worth around Rp 1 billion," he said.

PLN's distribution manager for Bali, Harry Suryanto, said the government electricity subsidy had reached Rp 60 trillion, and that with the global price of oil increasing, the government would be forced to shoulder a heavier financial burden in providing subsidy for diesel fuel plants.

"That's why we ask our customers to turn off their non-essential electrical appliances and use energy-saving bulbs. Reducing electricity consumption will also play a critical role in our efforts to reduce global warming," he said.

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