The first unit of a coal-fired power plant (PLTU) with a production capacity of 660 megawatts (MW) has been officially launched in Cirebon, West Java, which is hoped to boost the electricity supply in Bali and Java.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik launched the plant, the Cirebon Electric Power (CEP) PLTU, on Thursday at its site, which is located on a 100-hectares of land in coastal area near Kanci Kulon village, Astanajapura district in Cirebon.

Earlier this year, state utility firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) announced the electricity supply for Java and Bali was around 22,900 MW, while demand in the region was 35,000 MW or larger by 35 percent.

The new 660 MW-plant, among Indonesia’s first to use supercritical-boiler technology that consumes coal more efficiently and produces less carbon dioxide, is expected to supply 5,500 gigawatt-hour ...