Government Lowers Target For Power Generated From Renewable Energy

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The government has decided to lower the target for the contribution of power plants fueled by  renewable energy sources (EBT) to the country's total power production to 19.6 percent from 25 percent originally.

The cut in the portion of EBT generated power would be offset by an increase in the contribution from gas-fired power plants, spokesman of the Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Ministry  Sujatmiko said.

The change in the target was part of the revision of the General Plan for Power Provision (RUPTL) 2016-2025 of the national power utility Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN).

ESDM Minister Sudirman Said already signed the revision of the RUPTL, Sujatmiko said here on Wednesday.

Among the important points in the revision is the cut in the target for the EBT contribution to the country's total production of power in favor of power generated from natural gas, he said.  
Increase in the production  of power generated from natural gas would offset the reduction in production of power  generated from renewable energy sources, he said.

The contribution of gas fired power plants to the country's total power production would increase  to 29.4 percent from 24.3 percent originally.

Previously, the government set the contribution of EBT power plants to the country's total power production at 25 percent  in 2025 without contribution from nuclear power plant, but if failing to reach the target, production of power generated from natural gas  or other EBT  could be increased to offset the deficit.

Another important point in the revision is the contribution of coal fired power plants was cut to 50 percent  from originally 55.5 percent, Sujatmiko said.

The government also is set to accelerate completion of construction of gas fired power plants to forestall shortage in power supply in 2018.

Under the RUPTL 2016-2025, PLN is to contribute 10,233 MW  to the total capacity of 35,000 MW  of new power plants to be built until 2019 with independent power producers (IPP) to contribute the rest.

The government also decided to include high voltage transmission cable (high voltage direct current)project and coal fired power plants - PLTU Mulut Tambang Sumsel 9 and 10 in the RUPTL 2016-2025; and increase the capacity of the coal fired power plant - PLTU Jambi -  to 2x600 MW  from originally 2x300 MW.

PLN submitted the draft of the 2016-2025 RUPTL to the ESDM Ministry on May 19, 2016. (WDY)