Java And Sumatra Are Overelectric, The Government Wants To Build An Interconnect System

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

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif revealed, Java Island and South Sumatra Island have electric processes (excess), so it needs an electric transmission connection to be able to reach all areas on the big island of Indonesia.

"In Sumatra, for example, a 500KV high voltage connection needs to be completed to connect the electricity network from southern Sumatra to northern Sumatra," he said, Tuesday, October 31.

The 2,000 KM long electricity transmission connection, continued Arifin, requires support from the private sector. So that it can accelerate the progress of the construction of the electricity transmission.

If the interconnection of electricity transmission on the island of Sumatra is completed, Arifin projects that there will be a potential for saving the cost of providing electricity (BPP) of 6.9 US dollars per KWH, or around Rp. 6.32 trillion per year, and saving consumption of LNG usage of 9 cargoes. And there will be an increase in per capita electricity consumption of around 51.13 KWH.

Meanwhile, in northern Sulawesi, continued Arifin, it has a high power BPP and still uses diesel for its power plant. In addition, the transmission used is still a medium voltage.

"If the electricity transmission network in northern Sulawesi and southern Sulawesi is connected, then the BPP there will go down," explained Arifin.

Later, if the transmission network on Sulawesi Island is connected, there will be a potential decrease in BPP by 9.92 cent/kWh, with a potential savings of 63.47 million US dollars (assuming the loading of the Tambu-Bangkir line of 43.6 MW).

Meanwhile, if the Kalimantan Island transmission network is connected, the potential for a decrease in BPP by 0.34 US centers per KWh or IDR 1.6 trillion per year, increasing electricity consumption per capita by around 21.6 kWh, and increasing the development of EBT with hydro potential of up to 7,465 MW.

Then in Java, the government targets the uprating of the Jakarta and East Java interconnection systems, when completed, it will reduce gas consumption by 8 LNG cargoes at PLTGU Priok, Muara Tawar, and Muara Karang in 2025 and 91.4 BBTUD of piped gas at PLTGU Gresik in 2026.

Furthermore, the potential to reduce the BPP system from 5.88 US centers per kWh to 5.53 US centers per kWh, and obtain BPP Saving Potential of IDR 1 trillion per year.