INDUSTRY.co.id - Bekasi - PLN strengthens the electrical system in the framework of the development of regional and industrial area in Bekasi, West Java and its surroundings by building Gas Insulated Substation Extra High Voltage (GISTET) 500 kiloVolt.

"GISTET 500 kV Tambun will be built on an area of ​​5.3 hectares which requires construction time of 18-24 months," said West Java Regional Business Director, Murtaqi Syamsuddin, in the inauguration ceremony of GISTET 500 kV Tambun and GIS 150 kV Tambun II at City of Bekasi, West Java, Friday (3/3/2017).

The GISTET will have an interbus transformer capacity of 500kV voltage converted to a voltage of 150 kV with a capacity of 2x500 Mega Volt Ampere (MVA) at an early stage, and further up to a total of 4x500 MVA.

Meanwhile, General Manager of PLN Development Unit Robert Aprianto Purba explained, GIS 150 kV Tambun also prepared power transformer that serves the community around the location of substation with capacity 2x60 MVA in the early stages and can be developed into a total of 4x60 MVA according to the needs of citizens and industry Around the GISTET location.

"With the availability of sufficient energy supply, we are confident the Bekasi Municipality and surrounding industrial areas will get sufficient electricity supply and are expected to spur economic growth around this location," he said.

He reminded that the current electricity service that surrounds Jabodetabek area which has 500/150 kV interbus transformer already burden more than 80 percent, will be reduced by the operation of 2x500 MVA interbus transformer in Tambun.

All these things, he added, is a form of PLN service as a result of the electrical energy needs of citizens and the industrial world at about 3 percent per year.

The construction of GISTET 500 kV Tambun includes the construction of GITET 500 kV Duri Kosambi and Deltamas which is part of the 35,000 MW programs which is channeled through 46,000 kilometers of transmission network circuit and 109,000 MVA substations.

Meanwhile, Head of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) of Bekasi City, Tri Adhianto, in some areas there is an electricity crisis, whereas the development of such industrial estate in Bekasi is extraordinary because it attracts a lot of incoming investment.

Earlier, Executive Director of the Association of Indonesian Coal Companies (APBI) Supriatna Suhala requested PLN to absorb coal as an operational production of energy.

"PLN should absorb all coal output without questioning the price, because the value is still below from oil and gas," Supriatna said in Jakarta on Wednesday (1/3).

He further explained that the price of coal is still low compared to oil and gas which is usually used by PLN as fuel, so that materially will not make a loss.