President Jokowi Inaugurates PLTU, Mobile Power Plants in Kalimantan

President Jokowi leads the groundbreaking ceremony of the 100MW mobile power plant project and the inauguration ceremony of a 20 MW Ketapang PLTU in West Kalimantan (2/6)

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo on Thursday (2/6) led a groundbreaking ceremony of 100 MW Mobile Power Plant project and inaugurated Ketapang steam-fuelled power plant (PLTU) that produces 20 MW of electricity in Mempawah, West Kalimantan.

“I want to see the progress of this mobile power plant project that we expect can be completed in September,” President Jokowi said in his remarks.

The President added that he had also received information of a power plant whose construction has been halted for seven to eight years and said that before resuming the project, he wants to make sure whether for seven years, it has brought benefits or not because the project has used Rp. 1.5 trillion.

“You can image if it cannot be used. We have to settle every problem we face. I have instructed President Director of PT. PLN (state-owned electricity company) to finish the projects. He promised that the halted power plant project will be finished by the end of this year, while the mobile power plant project is expected to be finished in September,” the President said, adding that once those power plant projects are finished, there will be a big amount of additional electricity supply.

President Jokowi added that under his administration, he will always check projects.

“It can be me or my Minister(s) (who will come to check the project(s)). I always come to regions that are facing problems need to be solved. These projects use the state’s money, the people’s money,” President Jokowi said.

President Jokowi further said that in almost every province, complaints that he often receives are about power shortage and blackouts.

“This is what we have to address one by one. I also follow the development of the 35 MW,” President Jokowi said.

Joining the President at the inauguration ceremony were First Lady Ibu Iriana Jokowi, Minister of State-owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno, President Director of State-owned Electricity Company, Sofyan Basir, Governor of West Kalimantan Cornelis, Deputy Governor of West Kalimantan Christiandy Sanjaya, as well as Regents and Mayors from West Kalimantan Province. (UN/EN) (Naster/EP/YM)