Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government has proposed electricity subsidy of Rp58.72 trillion for 2012 to the House of Representatives, a 44.28 percent increase compared to the assumed electricity subsidy of Rp40.7 trillion under the 2011 state budget.

The proposal included state electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara`s assumed business margin of 8 percent, Director General of Electricity at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Jarman said at a working meeting with the House of Representatives Commission VII here on Tuesday.

"The margin is needed to enable PLN to increase its investment and improve business efficiency," he said.

PLN`s investment would go to priority projects particularly to increase the country`s electrification ratio, he said.

Meanwhile, the business efficiency activities would be carried out by optimizing the use of gas-, coal-and geothermal energy-fueled power plants, he said.

He said PLN`s cost of power supplies in 2012 was projected to reach Rp988 per kWh or Rp171.67 trillion.

"With an 8 percent margin, the cost of power supplies plus margin is expected to reach Rp185.41 trillion," he said.

PLN`s sales income in 2012 was projected to reach Rp126.69 trillion so that power subsidy needs would reach Rp58.72 trillion, he said.

The government arrived at the estimate of power subsidy of Rp58.72 trillion on assumption that the rupiah`s exchange rate against the dollar would average Rp9,200 per dollar, and Indonesian crude price (ICP) US$85 a barrel, he said.

PLN was projected to see power sales grow 9 percent next year with total sales expected to reach 173.77 tera Watt hour (TWh) and sales income Rp126.6 trillion, he said.(*)
(S012/HAJM/S012)

Editor: Ruslan Burhani
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