PLN needs the sea open for ships transporting coal for the 16.5 megawatt coal-fired power plant in Kupang to be operational before the end of this year.
The power plant will need 19 million tons of coal supplied from Kalimantan and ship transporting the coal has to pass through the Lelindo strait.
However, PT Timor, breeding oyster for pearl in that water area , declared that the strait is closed to ship traffic, PLN spokesman for East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Paul Bola said.
"The power plant, now 80 percent completed , could not start operation as scheduled until the dispute is sorted out," Paul said here on Thursday.
The government needs to interfere to resolve the problem, he said, adding the power plant is vital for the region.
The power plant, estimated to cost Rp450 billion , is part of the government`s on-going crash program of building coal-fired power plants with a total capacity of 10,000 MW .
Meanwhile, PLN`s president director Nur Pamudji said the power plant will help reduce dependence on oil energy and cope with shortage in power supply in the region especially in Timor.
(H-ASG/F001)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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