Observer Says Stop Operating Sambera PLTG Will Cause New Problems

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Sambera PLTG managed by PT Pertagas Niaga (PTGN) in East Kalimantan reportedly stopped operating. This condition also has the potential for electricity supply in the Nusantara Capital area to be insufficient.

Responding to the news, Public Policy Observer Trubus Rahadiansyah said that the existence of the Sambera PLTG is very important for the activities and mobility of East Kalimantan residents, especially for the State Capital (IKN).

"So in this case, it determines how IKN will grow in the future. IKN, apart from being the State Capital, is also the center of economic growth, therefore the existence of the Sambera PLTG is the key to success. The top leadership of the President Director at PTGN should have responsibility for this project," Trubus told reporters, Thursday, March 2.

Padahal sebagaimana diketahui, PLTG Sambera merupakan salah satu program unggulan Presiden Joko Widodo (Jokowi) di bidang energi biru atau blue energy, terutama dalam pemenuhan kebutuhan listrik di wilayah tersebut.

"Well, in the long term it can be a role model for other cities in terms of electricity supply using the Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) regasification," he said.

Trubus said that if the Sambera PLTG stopped operating, it would create new problems, especially in the development of IKN and the most important thing was to embarrass President Jokowi.

"If it stops or stalls, it has the potential to hinder the economy itself and can lead to violations of the law. Besides being related to the needs of residents living around the IKN area. That, like it or not, must still be sufficient (electric needs). If you stop, you will automatically experience problems," he continued.

Meanwhile, Al-Azhar University Indonesia (UAI) Law Expert Prof. Suparji Ahmad said that the large need for electricity should not be disturbed by the Sambera PLTG which has stopped operating. Even this condition will have an impact on the investment climate, especially the funding that investors have disbursed in the project.

"The clean energy offered by the Sambera PLTG is a solution that must be continued because it is proven that PT PLN is able to save primary energy costs of 70 billion per year and also because of the dwindling of fossil energy. If this extraordinary project stops operating, then it could be a lawsuit against PTGN. above the investor funds that have been used to build the project. Not to mention that it will definitely be BPK's findings," said Suparji.

According to him, the government's seriousness in increasing the electricity capacity for IKN is at stake in this Sambera PLTG project.

"Moreover, the use of renewable energy is Jokowi's flagship program in campaigning for blue energy towards efficient and affordable green energy and guaranteed sustainability," he said.

For information, in the development of Sambera's PLTG gasification, PTGN collaborated with PT Risco Energi Pratama as a gas infrastructure provider for the Pertamina Group's subsidiary.

Responding to the stagnant operational information on the Sambera PLTG, a spokesman for PT. Risco Energi Pratama Aditya Pratama confirmed the news. It also revealed the reason for the condition.

"It's true, there is still work that Risco has not been completed by PTGN since last year. We have repeatedly asked and invited the PTGN leadership to sit down together to discuss this matter but it seems that it will not be responded positively," Aditya said in his statement on Thursday, March 2, 2023.

In fact, he continued, so far, Risco has been committed to developing LNG infrastructure to meet domestic demand for gas. One of its facilities in Sambera, East Kalimantan, has been used as a role model for retail LNG sales in Indonesia.

Aditya further reminded that the Sambera PLTG is a BOT (Build Operate Transfer) project with a 5 year scheme and will be completed on October 31, 2023. The termination of the Sambera PLTG will definitely affect the BOT scheme.

Aditya also emphasized that his party regretted the actions of PTGN and PT PLN which did not pay attention.

"This is considering that the Sambera PLTG is one of President Jokowi's extraordinary flagship projects," he said.