RI And China Explore Cooperation To Accelerate Electric Network Transmission Projects

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Indonesia through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) is exploring cooperation in the development of electricity network transmission with Chinese company, The State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC).

The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Arifin Tasri, said SGCC is a major transmission company in China and not only operates in China but to several other countries. SGCC and has connected electricity to 1.1 billion people in China.

"Now there is cooperation with PLN, yes. We will encourage this to work," said Arifin to the media when met at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Building, Thursday, October 26. Through this collaboration, SGCC will build electricity transmission in Indonesia, some of which have not been touched by the electricity network.

Just so you know, previously PLN had planned to connect the Java and Sumatra electricity networks and was targeted to be completed in 2029. With this cooperation assessment, said Arifin, he asked that this project be included in the PLN Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL).

Moreover, he said, there were many requests to distribute EBT electricity from Sumatra and Java.

"This one is fast. The demand is there, for example, in the Sumatra area. Meanwhile, the HVDC (High Voltage Current) is connected, the transfer of 500 kv is only up in South Sumatra, Palembang, so come to Medan. So, as long as it's a lot of new sources that can enter. Then water has diesel, so there's geothermals that can enter," concluded Arifin.