REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, EAST LOMBOK -- State-owned electricity company PT PLN is conducting a trial run of a 2x25-megawatt capacity electric steam power plant, owned by a private corporation in Sambalia, East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. "The trial will be conducted until the end of January 2017," PT PLN's West Nusa Development Manager Suprianto remarked in East Lombok, Monday.

He further stated that his office is currently doing load testing to evaluate the power plant's functions and abilities. Suprianto explained that the trials are being conducted in stages, ranging from 25 to 100 percent, to determine whether the power plant's engine is performing according to requirement and to evaluate its operational readiness.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan stated in Jakarta on Tuesday that the government's 35,000-megawatt program is on track and will be completed by 2019. "The program is still on schedule," he remarked.

Panjaitan, who is also former coordinating minister of political, legal and security affairs, believed that it is imperative for the program to be implemented according to schedule as the country's electricity demand will continue to rise in line with its economic growth. 

Although Indonesia's economic growth is recorded at around five percent, which is lower than the government's target, Panjaitan believes that the 35,000-megawatt program will still be carried out. "We might possibly reach the commercial operation date (COD) for about 20,000 megawatts, while the rest is under construction," he added.

He affirmed that the government will also continue to adopt a cautious approach in determining the program's target. 

Although the implementation of the 35,000-megawatt program is viewed as being a challenging task, the Indonesian government is optimistic about its ability to succeed in realizing the program, as an additional electricity capacity of 35,000 megawatts is needed by the country in order to anticipate changes in future. "Global economic growth tends to shift every six months. It is highly possible for the growth rate to increase to six percent, and if we are not ready when it happens, we might experience a shortage. Hence, it is better to have excess capacity rather than a deficit," he explained.

The 20th meeting of the National Energy board members had earlier decided that the 35,000-megawatt program should be completed by 2019 following the initial conclusion of the 4th meeting, led by President Joko Widodo.

Board member Dwi Hary Soeryadi stated at a press conference in Jakarta, Monday (Jan 23) that the National General Energy Plan, put together by the board, indicated that a total of 114,000 megawatts worth of electricity capacity was to be achieved by 2015, and a total of 430,000 megawatts was to be installed by 2050.

Any delay in achieving the nearest target, which is 2019, will inflict setbacks to the long-term targets. "This is what we are keeping our eyes on at the moment. The 35,000-megawatt target by 2019 should remain a national priority," he remarked.

He further explained that PLN had noted a positive progress in the completion of the 35,000-megawatt project, in which the developments of 46,000 kilometers of transmission circuits; 108,000 mega volt amperes substations; and 402 power plants are running ahead of schedule. "This means that PLN remains committed to pursuing the target it had set," he added. 

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