Minister Basuki: Japan Interested In Investment In Dam Development And Hydropower Plant In The Freeport Indonesia Area

Minister of PUPR Basuki Hadimuljono. (Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono said that Japan will invest in the construction of dams as well as hydroelectric power plants (PLTA) in Timika, Papua, which is planned to supply electricity to PT Freeport Indonesia mines.

"Now it is being processed by the Directorate General of Financing for those at Freeport Timika, so that they (Japan) can invest hydropower there with dams," Basuki told reporters in Jakarta, Wednesday, February 15.

Basuki assessed that Japan was interested in making investments because the hydropower plant that would later be built would generate electricity supply of more than 75 Megawatts (MW).

"Usually, they will be more interested (invest) if there is a hydropower plant and usually the hydropower plant is looking for something bigger than 75 Megawatts," he said.

Currently, said Basuki, Japan is conducting a feasibility study related to this.

However, the Minister of PUPR has not been able to confirm the total investment value that Japan will provide later.

"I don't know yet, (the total investment value). He (Japan) just wanted to do a feasibility study (FS) and we have given approval for it," he added.

Meanwhile, based on data from the Directorate General of Infrastructure Financing, hydropower and dam construction projects in Papua have an investment value of IDR 18.59 trillion.

The project is still in the preparation stage and a feasibility study is being prepared.

The hydropower, which is estimated to generate power of 639 MW, can later supply electricity for Freeport mines.