Infrastructure Construction Stage Immediately Completed, PLN Targets PLTP Mataloko COD In 2031

MATALOKO - PT PLN (Persero) through PLN UIP Nusa Tenggara targets the Mataloko Geothermal Power Plant (PLTP) to operate commercially or Commercial Operation Date (COD) in 2031.

"2027, COD. Only 2 years left. I didn't feel that. 2026 then 2027," said PLN UIP Southeast Communications and Licensing Manager Bobby Robson Sitorus in Bajawa, quoted on Saturday, October 25.

According to Bobby, PLN has completed a number of processes such as the land acquisition process and has completed all licensing processes.

"For infrastructure construction, around 89 percent has been achieved. So that's why it is estimated that by the end of the year we will have 100 percent, then preparations for drilling," he said.

Bobby stated that the development of the Mataloko PLTP was actually a continuation of the previous project. He detailed that various types of licensing have also been pocketed by PLN, including environmental permits, space suitability permits, forestry permits and so on.

"It has been achieved all in 2021-2022. We are starting to enter for land acquisition in 2022. 2022 until 2024. We have just carried out infrastructure, roads, wellpads," he explained.

To build a geothermal plant with a capacity of 2x10 MW, PLN has carried out supporting infrastructure development such as roads leading to wellpad locations as far as 7 km. Bobby also said that his party was working on the completion of 4 wellpads at the PLTP in Ngada Regency. The drilling process will take 6 to 7 months for 1 wellpad point.

Meanwhile, the construction process for the plant takes about 15-18 months. Thus, the construction of this PLTP can be completed in 2031. "Yes, it can take 3 years, almost 2.5 years plus minus," he added.

In the midst of significant progress, Bobby said that his party was still experiencing problems related to water supply sourced from the Tiwu Bala River which had not yet received the blessing of the community to install pipes.

"Regarding the water supply only. There is water supply, we installed the pipe, now it is still prohibited by them (citizens)," he explained.

However, PLN is actively conducting socialization to the public by cooperating with the River Basin Center (BWS) of the Ministry of Public Works (PU).

"It may be continued and continuous, calculated together, until we get the final approval. That's what we left first. But the wellpad-wellpad we will finish," said Bobby.