Luhut TBS Energi Utama Company Pockets PLTU Sulut-3 Commercial Operations For 25 Years

PLTU North Sulawesi 3 (Photo. Doc. PLN)

JAKARTA - The independent power producer (IPP) company for the Sulut-3 PLTU project, namely PT Minahasa Cahaya Lestari (MCL), has reached its commercial operation date (COD) on July 1, 2021, as stated in a letter issued by PLN on August 18, 2021.

It is stated that the power purchase agreement for the Sulut-3 PLTU project will be valid for 25 years after the COD is achieved.

MCL President Director Dimas Wibowo said the PLTU Sulut-3 project was part of the 35,000 MW national electricity program launched by the central government.

"We are proud to be part of the 35,000 MW national strategic program which is expected to increase the electrification ratio in Indonesia so that it can have a multiplier effect on economic growth in North Sulawesi Province in particular", he said in openness as quoted on Monday, August 23.

On the same occasion, Director of MCL Alvin Firman Sunanda added that the determination of the Commercial Operation Date is the first step to start the PLTU Sulut-3 in distributing electricity for the next 25 years.

"We hope that during the management by MCL there will be no significant obstacles and can continue to achieve the target of meeting electricity needs, especially in the North Sulawesi region", he said.

For information, PLTU Sulut-3 will distribute electricity to PLN through a transmission network system that is distributed to the North Sulawesi region and its surroundings. Meanwhile, the PLTU Sulut-3 project itself has a capacity of 2x50MW which is located in Kema District, North Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi Province.

Currently, the supply of coal fuel comes from coal mines located in the Kaliorang area, East Kalimantan Province.

To note, PT Minahasa Cahaya Lestari is a company whose majority shares are owned by PT Toba Bara Energi, one of the subsidiaries of PT TBS Energi Utama Tbk with the stock code TOBA.

TBS Energi Utama Energi is an entity created by Pandu Patria Sjahrir, who is said to be the nephew of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan.

Pandu is listed as Deputy President Director at TOBA through a notarial deed signed by Aryanti Artisari. She is also said to have served as General Chair of the Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI) in 2015 for a leadership period until 2018 and was then re-elected in the same position for the 2018-2021 leadership period.