PLN Gandeng Medco And Sumitomo Accelerate Energy Transition

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

PT PLN (Persero) is collaborating with Sumitomo Corporation and PT Medco Energi Internasional Tbk in developing new and renewable energy (EBT) to accelerate the energy transition in the country. This collaboration was marked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding (Memorandum of Understanding or MoU) between PLN and Sumitomo Corporation conducted by the Director of Corporate Planning and Business Development of PLN Hartanto Wibowo and General Manager of Power Infrastructure Department Sumitomo Corporation, Takeshi Noguchi and witnessed by Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) I, Pahala Nugraha Mansury. Hartanto also represented PLN in signing the MoU with Medco Energi Internasional which was signed by the Director of Medco Energi Internasional Amri Siahaan. The signing of the two MOUs was carried out at the State Owned Enterprise (SOE) International Conference in Bali on Tuesday 18 October. PLN President Director, Darmawan Prasodjo explained, PLN's cooperation with Sumitomo was carried out to produce a study on the development of an EBT-based power generation business. This collaboration includes a scheme for developing electricity systems in areas that are still supported by diesel power plants (PLTD) in an effort to support the dedieselization program. "Business cooperation is also carried out in the development of transmission in an effort to support interconnection between islands, development of power plants (PLTB)," he said. According to Darmawan, this study can provide benefits for electricity system operations run by PLN, including efficiency, reduction in the cost of supply (BPP), accelerating dedieselization programs, increasing penetration of renewable energy, and reducing the capital expenditure (Fex) of PLN, in the development of electricity infrastructure. "PLN and Sumitomo will conduct a joint study on the development of the EBT power plant business and transmission. The validity period of this cooperation is 2 years since the signing of the memorandum of understanding was carried out," he said in an official statement, Wednesday, October 19. To accelerate the use of new energy sources, Darmawan explained, PLN together with Medco Energi Internasional agreed to conduct a study that includes the development of Hydrogen or Sacrina as an energy source, the development of Carbon Capturing Utilization and Storage (CCUS)/ Carbon Capturing Storage (CCS). "PLN and Medco will also conduct a joint study on the development of EBT. By conducting a joint study on the use of Well-Head Gas to Power (WHGTP) for power plants," he explained.