Supply 900 MW Of Green Electricity, Kayan Hydropower Plant Ready To Operate Commercially In 2027

KHE Khaeroni's Director of Operations when giving a statement in Tanjung Selor, North Kalimantan. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

TANJUNG CELLOR- PT Kayan Hydro Energy (KHE) is currently working on the first dam of the Hydropower River Hydropower Hydroelectric Power Plant (PLTA) project in Peso District, Bulungan Regency, North Kalimantan.

The first phase of the Kayan hydropower plant is targeted to be ready for commercial operation (COD) in 2027.

"When talking about dam 1 (PLTA Kayan), COD can reach 2027, no later than 2028. The total capacity is 900 Megawatt (MW) dam 1," said KHE Khaeroni Operations Director in Tanjung Selor, North Kalimantan, Sunday, December 10.

Roni, Khaeroni's nickname, explained, based on a check by the Directorate General of Water Resources of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) as of August 2022, the progress of the construction of the 1 hydropower plant in Kayan had reached 27 percent.

Furthermore, Roni explained, if you talk about stages, not only dams, but also supporting infrastructure which is calculated into one project.

"When it comes to the dam project, there are access routes, bridge plans and so on. Finally, the final one is the diversion, the job to divert the river before the dam is carried out," he said.

Roni said that this diversion work had been carried out about 3-4 months ago. He explained that the work on the transfer of this river was carried out through an explosive or blasting process at the project site. Where it is targeted that the work can be completed in 6-8 months.

"Maybe in the middle of next year it can be finished, then we will continue to do additional work," explained Roni.

Not Just Blasting

Currently, continued Roni, KHE routinely carries out the detonation process at the site of the 1 hydropower PLTA Kayan dam project every day for four months.

Every day there is a blasting. At 12 o'clock there is an explosion, because this is the pursuit of the diversion work so that it is finished quickly. So every day you have to continue blasting," he said.

However, Roni emphasized, KHE cannot just blast.

The reason, continued Roni, is that the Kayan River is still used as a transportation route by the local community.

"At the time of blasting, there must be blocking upstream of rivers and downstream rivers. So we block the community's safe points through that, we block them, there is information that we install explosion hours in local villages, we have socialized them," he said.

Roni also said that his party would involve the TNI-Polri to close access in the upstream and downstream areas of the river. The closure is carried out to ensure that no one passes by during the detonation or blasting process.

"So people don't pass during blasting hours. After the detonation, it's safe, then they can cross the river again," he said.