VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian government is currently exploring exporting electricity to Singapore as there could be potential over-capacity of power supply in the country, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Arifin Tasrif, informed on Tuesday.

Speaking to legislators during a parliamentary hearing, Tasrif said Indonesia has excess power supply, especially amid the pandemic which has led to a fall in power consumption.

“We are looking at Singapore. Singapore needs to import electricity. This is what we are exploring: whether or not we may export our excess power. We could connect from Java to Sumatra, Riau then Singapore, or we could make an entry through the ASEAN Power Grid from Sumatra to the Malaysia peninsula,” Tasrif said.

The government is seeking to boost inter-islands connectivity to support the plan as well as to allow equal power supply across the country, he added.

Another option to manage the excess power supply issue is relocating existing power plants, Tasrif added. Besides, the government will continue to encourage people to use electric vehicles and stoves as part of efforts to revive power consumption, he continued.

“Relocation of existing power supply, aged 20 to 25 years, might be conducted in several places that need it the most, such as locations with smelter industry potential. Because by using coal, the cost will be cheaper, and our industry would be more competitive,” he said.

The potential over-supply could also be contributed by the 35 thousand-MW mega power plant project currently under-development and additional 7 thousand MW of power from the previous project, Tasrif said.

"(Once the project of 35,000 MW is completed), the over-supply will be in high number, around 40 to 60 percent. Thus, our margin reserve could reach 50 percent of its ideal number of 30 percent. This (export of power), indeed, should meet the solution," he noted. (antaranews)