Berita

WAMENA - PT PLN (Persero) started to build PLTA (Hydro Power Plant) Baliem 2 in capacity of 50 Megawatt (MW) by utilizing the river flow potency of Baliem River, Papua Province. The President Director of PLN, Nur Pamudji together with the Regent of Jayawijaya, John Wempi Wetipo, and the Regent of Yahukimo District, Ones Pahabol, signed an inscription as the sign of the construction of PLTA Baliem on Wednesday (1/8) in Wamena. 

The signing of the inscription was witnessed by the Minister of BUMN, Dahlan Iskan and Governor of Papua, Syamsul Arief Rivai. The Director General of Electricity, Jarman, and directors of PLN and also Local Government also witnessed the signing. PLTA Baliem 2 in capacity of 50 MW is targeted to commercially operate (COD) by 2017.

Based on the result of Hydro Power Potentials Study (HPPS) did in 1999, along the Baliem River is potential to generate electricity up to 880 MW. PLTA Baliem 2 has a potency to develop up to 170 MW. For this first stage, PLN will build PLTA in installed capacity of 50 MW, consisting of 10 machine units in capacity of each 5 MW. The construction of PLTA Baliem 2 consists of two works; access road construction and main works such as civil work, metal work, electric mechanical work, transmission lines and sub stations.

The total investment fund needed for both works is predicted almost Rp 4, 9 trillion, using APLN funding. As initial construction of PLTA Baliem 2, PLN will immediately build access road heading to the location of PLTA Project from existing road approximately 20 km, along the mountain slopes. Besides building access road, PLN will also build transmission lines 70 kV along approximately 35 km, which generate electricity from PLTA Baliem to Wamena Substation then be distributed to PLN consumers in Wamena, Kurulu and surrounding areas. Electricity produced by PLTA Baliem 2 will also be able to be enjoyed by citizens living in some areas surrounding PLTA. PLN will also build electricity lines of 20 kV to generate electricity from PLTA Baliem to the other seven districts.

The existence of PLTM Walesi currently operates to supply electricity in Wamena electricity system and in the future PLTA Baliem 2 is an effort and hard working of PLN to electrify Papua by 2017, especially Wamena and surrounding cities will fully utilize the abundance water resource potency and stop PLN dependency to BBM consumption as the main source of electricity producer in Wamena. Along this time, the BBM have to be transported by using airplane from Jayapura.

Nur Pamudji gave speech in front of 1500s citizens, attending the event of Oh Liah Waga, which means From Dark Heading to Light, that PLN is so serious to finish the construction of PLTA Baliem 2. Since last year, PLN together with Dahlan Iskan, who was the President Director of PLN, directly decided to immediately build PLTA Baliem 2 because the abundance water potency of Baliem River, which is a good potency for PLTA that could be utilized for all citizens living in Jayawijaya Mountains. By the existence of PLTA Baliem 2, the electrification ration will continuously grow: citizens are able to utilize electricity for economic activities; Local Government could be assisted in encouraging the acceleration of economic growth.

Even, this access road building will give added value for surrounding citizens to ease the transportation access heading to Wamena, mainly in marketing the agricultural products, said Nur Pamudji.

Meanwhile, the Minister of BUMN, Dahlan Iskan stated that PT Semen Gresik is appointed to survey the possibility of the construction of cement factory by utilizing the potency of existing Limestone Mountain. I asked the President Director of PT Semen Gresik to immediately perform the survey, whether cement factory could be build here or not. Surely that the factory will utilize electricity from PLTA Baliem 2 and in the future it will be helpful to decrease the cement problem causing the expensive construction in Tengahtegas Mountains areas, said Dahlan Iskan.

PLTA Baliem 2 in capacity of 50 MW will be able to produce electricity for 361 GWh/ year and the saving potency that will be received by PLN from the operation of PLTA Baliem 2 comparing to the current condition (consuming HSD diesel oil) is about Rp 2, 4 trillion per year. (AK)