Kupang (Antara NTT) - The National Power Utility PT PLN of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) is set to put into operation three gas machine powered electric plants (PLTMG) on the islands of Flores and Timor in 2018.
"The three power generating projects are now under construction and we are set to finish the work in mid and in second half of 2018," General Manager of PT PLN for NTT Christyono said here on Tuesday.
The three power generating projects are PLTMG Labuan Bajo in the regency of Manggarai Barat having a capacity of 20 megawatts (MW), PLTMG Maumere in the regency of Sikka 40 MW, and PLTMG Panaf in the district of Kupang 40 MW.
Christyono said the PLTMG Panaf is to secure electricity supply for Timor or Timor system, which has been in operation in the city of Kupang and Atambua in the district of Belu through a 70-kilowatts transmission system.
"The Panaf power plant is also to increase power supply to meet growing demand in Timor," he said, adding power demand is estimated to grow 8 percent per year in Timor.
Construction is also progressing well of the facilities in Flores -PLTMG Labuan Bajo and PLTMG Maumere.
In Flores demand for power is estimated to grow 11 percent a year especially with the growing tourism industry in that area.
In Labuan Bajo, the tourism industry is growing fast thanks to its Komodo National Park. Maumere has an open access that it is potential to become an industrial center, Christyono said.
He said electricity development in Flores is not yet connected in a system like in Timor. The facilities operate separately.
PLN still continues to boost development of long transmission system from the eastern end of the island in the regency of Flores Timur to its western end in the regency of Manggarai Barat.
"Currently we continue to building transmission systems and the progress has been close to 100 percent finish from Ruteng-Labuan Bajo to Ropa-Ende," he said.
