PLN proposing Java-Sumatra power trasmission cable project

Tag : Power Cable
State-owned electricity company PLN isproposing a 650-km Java-Sumatra power transmission cable project tothe National Development Planing Board (Bappenas) worth US$1.8billion, its president director said.

"We have finished a feasibility study for the project and we haveproposed it to Bapennas," PLN President Director Fahmi Mochtar saidhere on Friday.

He said based on estimates the mega power project would cost US$1.8billion.

The high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission cable wouldtransmit 2,000 MW from power plants in South Sumatra to Java viathe Sunda Strait.

The tranmission of such a volume of power required the conversionof the electricity current from alternating current (AC) to directcurrent (DC).

Therefore, facilities to convert power from AC to DC would be builtnear the South Sumatra power plants and facilities for conversionfrom DC to AC near Jakarta.

The HVDC cable transmission project would be the first of its kindin Indonesia while not many companies were doing business in thisfield.

PLN has been imposing alternating power cuts in several parts ofthe country of late due to shortage of power supplies.

The PLN president director said recently the company had until nowbeen having an electricity deficit of 600 MW per day or about 3,000MW per week.