Ambon (ANTARA News) - A 1.5 MW diesel power plant (PLTD) will be built by state power company PT.PLN Maluku and North Maluku branches on Moa island, Southwest Maluku (MBD) district.

Energy and energy resources division head of MBD disrict administration Ronny Kakerissa said in Ambon Thursday he has coordinated with PT.PLN to build the PLTD in September 2011.

"We have already prepared the land for the facility, so that construction work could be started," he said.

The PLTD will be built in three months.

"Thus by the end of December 2011 the project could be operated as some kind of Christmas and New Year`s present to the local regency administration as well as the people of MBD which had been expanded from Southwest Maluku on September 16, 2008," Ronny said.

He said electricity has been posing a problem in boosting development, administration and social services in MBD which is geographically close to Timor Leste.

"Imagine there is light there only at night, compelling offices to maximize their generating sets which would therefore need extra cost for fuel oil," Ronny pointed out.

He said the PLTD will boost the activities of the administration of Tiakur as MBD capital.

The activites of government, building and social services were still carried out in Kisar.

"Therefore the Regent of Barnabas Orno and his deputy Johanes Letelay who had been instlled by the Maluku Governor in Kisar on April 26, 2011 had decided that in 2011 government activities are carried out in Tiakur so that the PLTD should have started operations by the end of December this year," Ronny said.

He admitted that the infrastructure and climate changes had been posing a problem in optimizing the potential of natural resources, especially oil/gas and minerals, in MBD.

Right now a total of 63 companies had already been granted oil/gas exploration permits in MBD, the only thing is still being awaited are permit of releasing the forests from the Forestry Ministry.
(Uu.H-NG/O001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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