Wayan Koster Says PLTG in Bali to Start Construction This Year

Bali Governor Wayan Koster. (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Bali Governor Wayan Koster said that the construction of a gas-fired power plant or Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) will begin in 2026.

"Astungkara, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (Energy and Mineral Resources) and PLN have agreed that a gas-based power plant will be built in 2026," said Koster at the opening of the 2026 Bali Language Month in Denpasar, quoted by Antara, Sunday, January 1.

This development plan was revealed when the Governor of Bali said that he had prohibited the PLN from building a new power plant, because the raw materials were not environmentally friendly.

The Bali Provincial Government has firmly rejected the use of coal as a raw material for electricity on the Island of the Gods, while gas is believed to have no impact as bad as coal.

"I spoke with the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Director of PLN that no longer should build power plants using coal, they must use renewable energy or at least gas," he said.

"With the construction of the LNG terminal, Bali is able to be energy independent with clean energy without relying on off-island electricity supply as has been the case, namely by channeling electricity from Paiton.

Mandiri energy will also help the next generation of Bali so that they do not have to face threats or disruptions in electricity availability.

"So that this light that is lit continues to burn without dependence on the outside, which will be very easy to be disturbed by any party who wants to disturb Bali, Aatungkara has been approved this year to be built," said Koster.

After building a power plant that is believed to not pollute the environment, the Bali Provincial Government only needs to build its human resources.

Governor Koster is consistent in developing Bali's human resources (HR) with the foundation of local wisdom inherited from ancestors.

Because, until now, the tradition inherited by the ancestors of Bali is closely related to maintaining nature and all its contents so that humans cannot damage or carry out life arbitrarily.

Previously, the plan to build an LNG terminal in the Sidakarya coastal area, Denpasar, had been rolling in the colors of pros and cons.

The only reason the Bali Provincial Government cannot move is that there is no environmental approval permit or Environmental Impact Analysis (Amdal) from the Ministry of Environment.

However, the Bali Provincial Government stated that the permit has now been granted with the proviso that the terminal that was originally to be built on the coast has been changed to be 3.5 km from the coast of Sidakarya Beach.