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Bisnis Indonesia - Jelajah Tirta Nusantara: Jatigede siap antisipasi pensiun dini PLTU
14 May 2024
By Reyhan F. Fajarihza
Bisnis, North Sumatra – Jatigede Dam is preparing to anticipate the early retirement of Cirebon-1 Coal-fired Power Plant (PLTU) in 2035 by constructing a solar power plant (PLTS), similar to the one in Cirata.
Jatigede Dam Management Unit Head Yuyu Wahyu said that the plan to construct the PLTS would be the starting point of utilising renewable energy at the dam constructed in 2008.
“Now is [the era of] green energy. It must be new and renewable. Meanwhile, in Cirebon, the [Cirebon-1] PLTU uses fossil energy. Little by little, it will be reduced,” he told Bisnis Indonesia Jelajah Tirta Nusantara Team recently.
The early retirement of Cirebon-1 PLTU is planned to be realised in December 2035, sooner than the initial plan of 2042. During this process, Asian Development Bank (ADB), PT Cirebon Electric Power, and Indonesia Investment Authority (INA) have agreed to retire the 660-megawatt PLTU.
Yuyu explained that the Jatigede PLTS would have a capacity of 100 MW, which will complement the existing hydropower plant (PLTA). Therefore, the electricity produced by new renewable energy (NRE) power plants in the dam will reach 210 MW as the PLTA currently has a capacity of 110 MW.
According to him, the electricity supply from Jatigede will be integrated with the electricity from other NRE power plants in West Java, such as Cirata Reservoir in Purwakarta and Saguling in West Bandung.
“So, it will support other [electricity] sources, such as Cirata and Saguling. They will be supported to be merged to be part of the Java-Madura-Bali interconnection,” he stated.
Based on Bisnis’ records in May 2023, the PLTS construction in Jatigede Dam will be carried out by PT Indonesia Power that is a subsidiary of PT PLN (Persero). Moreover, the investment value for the construction reaches US$1 million per MW or more than Rp14 billion.
PT PLN Indonesia Power Pre-construction Vice President Usvizal Zainuddin said that the PLTS construction plan was part of the government’s effort to reduce carbon emissions and achieve net zero emission.
“Until now, we have always used fossil [energy] that affects air quality in our country. Electricity in Java and Bali will be stronger, especially in Sumedang as there are eco-friendly PLTS using new renewable energy,” he said some time ago.
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