Supplying Electricity to Sumut, Pertamina cooperates with Sojitz to built 250 MW PLTG

KATADATA - PT Pertamina (Persero) cooperates with Sojitz Corporation and PT Pembangunan Prasarana Sumatera Utara to build gas-fueled power plant with capacity of 250 megawatt (MW) in North Sumatera (Sumut). The gas supply for the power plant with total investment of US$ 250 million is from the LNG Arun terminal in Aceh. 

Pertamina’s SVP for Gas and Power Djohari Angga Kusumah said that Pertamina and the partners wish to really contribute to deal with the energy crisis in North Sumatera through the development of Independent Power Producer (IPP). And based on the data of Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), North Sumatera still need more electricity capacity in the amount of 700-800 MW. And as the result, North Sumatera currently applies the “rotating black out” strategy. 

“Pertamina wishes to be more active in helping the central and local government to deal with the energy crisis in the North Sumatera,” Djohari said during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding as a proof of Pertamina’s partnership with Sojitz and PT Pembangunan Prasarana in Pertamina Building, Jakarta, Friday (16/10). 

And for Pertamina, the development of the power plant is also an attempt to optimize the usage of Arun Receiving, Hub, & Re-gasification LNG Terminal facilities in Aceh, as well as to optimize the gas transmission pipe in the open access Arun-Belawan. The gas facility that belongs to Pertamina has channeled or distributed gas in the amount of 90 million cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) for PLN’s power plant in Belawan. 

And for the gas-fueled power plant, Pertamina is ready to supply gas in the amount of 35 MMSCFD. The project with total investment of US$ 250 million is targeted to be completed in the year of 2019. 

According to Pertamina’s VP for Gas and Power Commercialization, Ginanjar, the project would be funded by the bank consortium. “70 to 75% is from loan. Usually from international bank,” Ginanjar said.

Meanwhile, the President Director of PT Sojitz Indonesia Takashi Inada admitted that this is the first time for Sojitz to participate in the electricity development project in Indonesia. Previously, the Japan-based company has participated in the electricity power plant development in Vietnam and Middle East. “And so we hope that the project can be done by 2019,” Takashi said. 

In the same opportunity, the President Director of Pembangunan Prasarana Sumatera Utara, Tasimin Muhammad Tasya, said that right now North Sumatera is having an energy crisis. “We need to find the solution. How would the investments be made if the energy is not enough. We’re sure that with Pertamina and Sojitz, the PLTG development can be done,” Tasimin said. 

Meanwhile, the Plt North Sumatera Governor Tengku Erry Nuradi also hope so that the project can be realized soon. North Sumatera has a lot of strategic project, like the Sei Mangkei and Kuala Tanjung project. And so, there is a great need for electricity. “There are also lots of industries and hotels that need electricity. But until today, PLN still could not fulfill it,” the governor said.