Domestic Steel Industries Ready To Support Power Transmission Project

Jakarta (Antara Bali) -- National industries have been able to meet the government's demand for steel for the development of its 46,597-kilometer power transmission project, according to Industry Minister Saleh Husin.

"The development plan consists of power transmission networks of 150 kilovolts, 275 kilovolts, and 500 kilovolts. They will be built within a ten-year period from 2015 to 2024. The 150-kilovolt transmission network will be the longest of them all, covering a distance of up to 40,413 kilometers," the minister told the press here on Friday.

Considering the length of the project, Husin predicted that the transmission network will require a large number of components, which can be produced by industries at home.

"For instance, the 150-kilovolt transmission network will need three units of towers in a one-kilometer stretch. Each tower will weigh 10 tons, which will bring the total to 30 tons per kilometer. So it is clear that the transmission power project will boost the business of state-owned steel company PT Krakatau Steel and other steel industries in the country," he affirmed.

Moreover, Husin pointed out that components for the towers will consist of 86 percent elbow L iron profile, 10 percent plate iron profile, and 4 percent bolts.

National component producers will benefit from this project, such as cord conductor and ceramic insulator producers. The need for these two components stands at 9.3 tons per kilometer and 346 units per kilometer, respectively.

The 275-kilovolt transmission network will be composed of 2.5 units of towers per kilometer, weighing 45 tons per kilometer. The 500-kilovolt transmission network will need two units of towers per kilometer, weighing 80 tons per kilometer.

Besides electric towers, cables, and ceramic insulators, the project will have other requirements, such as fittings and accessories.

Furthermore, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said on Thursday that the government will accelerate the implementation of the plan to build 46,000 kilometers of power transmission networks, as part of its plan to build power generating plants with a total capacity of 35,000 megawatts by 2019.

The plan was discussed during a meeting of related ministers led by Vice President Jusuf Kalla here on Thursday.

"We met to discuss the plan to build power plants with a total capacity of 35,000 megawatts and 46,000 kilometers of transmission networks," Husin stated after the meeting.

The transmission systems will be built with the involvement of the private sector, he noted.

A director of national power utility PLN Sofyan Basir pointed out that the transmission systems will be completed within three to four years and will be ready when the construction of the power plants is completed.

"All factors were taken into account, including standards and the price of power. It will be of help to PLN to prevent problems in the field," Basir remarked.

The greatest challenges in the implementation of the power plant project are licensing and land clearing, he added. (WDY)