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PLN operates first biomass power plant
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PLN general manager for West Kalimantan region Richard Safkaur (second right) and PT Rezeki Perkasa Sejahtera Lestari president director Duken Kuncara shake hands after signing an agreement on the operation of biomass power plant (PLTBm) Rezeki I Siantan in Wajok Hulu village, West Kalimantan, on April 24. (tribunpuntianak.com/Nina Soraya)
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tate-owned electricity company PLN, in cooperation with PT Rezeki Perkasa Sejahtera Lestari, inaugurated on Tuesday its first biomass power plant (PLTBm) in West Kalimantan with a capacity of 15 megawatts (MW).
“The operation of PLTBm Rezeki I Siantan aims to increase electricity supply in the Equator area electricity system and replace several power plants that use fossil fuels,” said PLN general manager for West Kalimantan, Richard Safkaur, on Tuesday as reported by tempo.co.
The plant, which uses agricultural waste as its fuel, is projected to supply 74 million kilowatt per hour (kWh) annually.
Richard said the development of power plants with renewable fuel resources had become PLN’s priority in Kalimantan. He said power plants that used renewable fuels served 66 percent of electricity demand in the province.
The plant is located in Wajok Hulu village, Siantan district, Mempawah regency, West Kalimantan. The fuel material includes palm oil waste; rice husks, corn and sugar cane waste, as well as timber sawmill waste.
“The price of the materials is Rp 600 [4 US cents] per kilogram and the power plant needs 98,400 tons of waste annually,” Richard said, adding that PLN had constructed an 5.6-kilometer electricity network to connect the power plant to the PLN Equator electricity system.
Meanwhile, PT Rezeki Perkasa Sejahtera Lestari president director Duken Kuncara said his company was cooperating with the local forestry agency and other organizations as well as oil palm plantations to maintain a sustainable supply of agriculture waste. Duken said his company had invested US$21 million to develop the plant. (bbn)
