Biak, Papua (ANTARA) - The Urfu Oil and Gas Power Plant (PLTMG) in Yendidori Sub-district, Biak Numfor District, Papua, is targeted to become operational in August to cater to the electricity demand in the districts of Biak and Supiori.

"The physical facilities for the installation of the PLTMG Urfu unit one engine construction have been completed, while the mechanical and electrical components of the Biak unit are currently pending supervision. The electrical team is working on the installation in Tual, Maluku, and Merauke, to Biak," Manager of the PT PLN Customer Service Implementation Unit (UP3) Biak Y. Darmono remarked here on Saturday.

Darmono highlighted the strategic significance of the PLTMG Urfu Biak since it would strengthen the electricity system in Biak Numfor and Supiori as PLN's concrete efforts to boost economic growth in Indonesia's eastern region.

Darmono pointed to electricity currently becoming the key necessity of the community, so the operational target of the Urfu PLTMG is projected to be met in August.

Once the construction of the Urfu power plant, with a 15-megawatt (MW) capacity for unit one and 10 MW for unit two is complete, Darmono believes it will lower the power outages that occur owing to peak loads and other technical constraints in the Biak Customer Service Unit Implementation Area.

Darmono expects that during Ramadan, the Urfu PLTMG will help to reduce the duration of power outages experienced at customers' homes in Biak.

Darmono emphasized that the National Biak UP3 line has, until now, continued to maximize its services to meet the electricity requirements of residents by utilizing machine maintenance from the private sector.

"Yes, in this way, it is expected that PLN Biak can continue to fulfill the electricity requirements of residents, especially in welcoming the religious holidays of Eid al-Fitr safely," he stated.

Until Saturday, the daily supply for meeting the electricity needs of residents in the districts of Biak Numfor and Supiori was still normal.

Translator: Eliswan Azly
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2019