In 11 Months 2022, PLN Bangun 59 ALMA To Save Operational Costs For Fisheries And Marine Business Actors

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

PT PLN (Persero) has built 59 Independent Electricity PLANts (ALMA) with an installed power of 1,494 kiloVolt Ampere (kVA) throughout Indonesia until November 2022. ALMA is part of the PLN electrifying marine program which aims to make it easier for business actors and the public to get electricity services at ports.

PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo explained, ALMA is a public electricity supply station that can be used by fishermen to fulfill ships and cold storage which was originally based on fuel.

"By utilizing ALMA, fisheries and marine business actors can make up to 50 percent savings for operational costs. Because they no longer depend on the use of oil-fueled generators whose costs are greater," he said in an official statement, Monday, January 9.

Darmawan added, ALMA has supported the economic activities of business actors and the community at ports in Indonesia. It is proven that in the January-November 2022 period, the use of electricity through ALMA has reached 372.1 megawatt hour (MWh).

Since last year, PLN has been aggressively encouraging the electrifying marine program. Not only to boost the economy, but also to shift port energy sources that have been dependent on fuel to cheaper and environmentally friendly electricity," said Darmawan.

To date, the highest number of installations of ALMA is in the Maluku and North Maluku areas. The ALMA that has been built in the ports of this area is 25 pieces with a total installed power of 575 kVA.

Of this amount, the total use of ALMA in Maluku and North Maluku until November 2022 reached 175.77 MWh.

"We hope this can meet the electricity needs for lighting ships, cold storage, and other electricity needs at pier locations, ports to Fish Auction Places (TPI)," he said.

General Manager of PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry Ternate Branch, Yulianto as one of the customers said that in addition to making the port greener, using ALMA also allows ships to increase efficiency in terms of life time spare parts and replace longer engine oil because there is no need to turn on the engine when the ship docks at the port.

"This makes the port more environmentally friendly, noiseless and efficient for ships leaning," he said.

Suryadi, captain of the ship from Berau, East Kalimantan, said that the presence of ALMA really helped the crew in getting more efficient energy.

"The benefits can be felt in real terms, namely the use of fuel is reduced so that it becomes more efficient, smoke pollution is also reduced and there is no noise on the ship," concluded Suryadi.