PLN Supply 75 MW Of Electricity To Antam's Ferronickel Smelter

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - PT PLN (Persero) will supply the electricity needs of 75 Megawatts (MW) to the ferronickel processing and refining plant or smelter owned by PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (Antam) in East Halmahera, North Maluku.

PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo said that PLN is ready to supply for the next 30 years and has prepared a larger capacity of 111 MW to ensure supply reliability and anticipate the growth of Antam's smelter needs in the future.

"This 111 MW capacity is dedicated to supporting Antam's long-term needs. Please, if Antam needs additional electricity supply in the future, we are also ready," said Darmawan, quoted Friday, February 11.

Based on the plan, this electricity supply will be divided into two stages. First, for the next six months, PLN will supply ANTAM's electricity needs of 51 MW. Second, after 12 months, PLN will complete the electricity supply of 60 MW for the electricity needs of the ferronickel smelter completely.

To be able to meet the electricity demand, PLN will bring in two gas engine power plants (PLTMG) dual-fuel systems from the South Sumatra region of 51 MW and Jambi of 60 MW to be brought to East Halmahera so as to optimize electricity supply for Antam's smelter.

"There are several areas that currently oversupply in supply so that the plant is currently underutilized. So we can maximize its utilization for Antam's ferronickel smelter in East Halmahera," said Darmawan.

He said this collaboration and synergy was able to strengthen the SOE ecosystem. Moreover, Antam's smelter is a government mandate to boost mineral downstream products.

Antam's President Director, Nicolas Kanter, explained that the smelter is one of the national strategic projects to support mineral downstreaming in Indonesia. With the support of PLN electricity, the smelter, which has been completed, will soon be fully operational.

"With the synergy with PLN, this smelter will operate in 2022," Nico said.

Nico hopes that the process of building and connecting electricity will be carried out quickly, accurately, and reliably.

"So that in the end it can increase its contribution to the country and provide more benefits, especially for the community around the factory's operating area," said Nico.

Nico hopes that this synergy can encourage the acceleration of mineral downstreaming. The active role of SOEs in providing added value for state revenues can be realized immediately.

"We believe that with good synergy between Antam and PLN, efforts to accelerate mineral downstreaming, especially in relation to nickel, can be implemented immediately," said Nico.