New Indonesian Capital Nusantara Powered by Renewable Energy

TheIndonesia.co - The Business Director of the state-run electricity company PT PLN in Sumatra-Kalimantan Regional, Adi Lumakso, has said that the electricity needs in the new capital city (IKN) Nusantara would use both new and renewable energy-based power plants that produce no emissions. The IKN Nusantara will also be equipped with Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (SPKLU) to create a new eco-friendly urban ecosystem, he added.

"PLN had planned to equip the IKN Nusantara with green, smart, and beautiful concepts, including underground cable distribution with futuristic designs," Lumakso said as quoted by Antara on Thursday, June 9, 2022.

For the supply of new and renewable electricity (EBT), PLN has prepared a 50 megawatt (MW) Solar Power Plant (PLTS) and a 70 MW Wind Power Plant (PLTB) in Tanah Laut, which remains in an early stage. For the long term, PLN is also preparing a hydroelectric power plant (PLTA) to produce some 1,000 MW, which will be ready to support the IKN Nusantara area.

Lumakso said that in the future, IKN Nusantara's electricity needs will be supplied from the Kalimantan interconnection system, which currently connects South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, and North Kalimantan. Currently, the electricity demand in Kalimantan's interconnection system reaches 1,305 megawatts (MW) with a power generating engine capacity of 1,729 MW, making a 424 MW power reserve for the island.

The electricity infrastructure development at IKN was also marked by the operation of the first Public Electric Charging Station (SPLU) in the IKN area. In addition, at the IKN pre-construction stage, PLN will build two mobile substations (GI) located around the zero point with a capacity of 30 Mega Volt Ampere (MVA) each.

The mobile substation is connected to the Kariangau-Petung High Voltage Air Line (SUTT), targeted to be completed in August and December 2022.

"In the short term, we will build two substations around the Gresik area using mobile transformer equipment that we relocated from Java Island," he said.

Lumakso noted that the readiness of the electricity supply is the driving force behind the economy, especially in IKN, which will be a magnet for future economic growth for several industries. For this reason, PLN is committed to completing the construction of the electricity infrastructure with the highest quality, to achieve an advanced, resilient, and sustainable Indonesia.

"Hopefully, the presence of PLN at IKN Nusantara will boost the economy in East Kalimantan," he added.