Kupang, NTT (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resource Ministry would increase the production capacity of wind power plant (PLTB) in Sidrap District, South Sulawesi within the next two to three years.

"The power plant in Sidrap would be expanded," the ministry's Director of Renewable Energy Harris said in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara on late Saturday.

"Currently the power plant only has the capacity to produce 75 megawatt (of electricity). It would be increased by 50 to 60 megawatt, so it could produce 125-130 megawatt of electricity," Harris said.

Sidrap wind power plant is the first wind power project in the country and the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia.

It has 30 windmills each with 80-meter high tower and 57-meter long propellers. Each tower produces 2.5 MW of electricity.

Sidrap wind power plant is the first commercial plant of its kind developed by PT UPC Sidrap Bayu, and it can power up to 150,000 households with 450 KVA of apparent power capacity.

The power plant located in Sidenreng Rappang (Sidrap) District of South Sulawesi is said to become a pioneer for the development of renewable energy in Indonesia.

President Joko Widodo when inaugurated the power plant in July 2018 has expressed hope that the development of Sidrap wind power plant would help the government to reach its target of 23 percent contribution of renewable energy to the country’s electricity production by 2025.

Translator: Aji Cakti, Sri Haryati
Editor: Gusti Nur Cahya Aryani
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