PT Bukit Asam Tbk, a member of MIND ID, has announced its plans to implement Solar Power Plants (PLTS) on a number of its former mining sites in Sumatra and Kalimantan as part of its wider diversification program to sustainable energy.
PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) is a prominent Indonesian company operating in the mining and energy sector. With a focus on coal mining, PTBA has been diversifying its operations into sustainable energy, including the implementation of Solar Power Plants (PLTS). The company aims to contribute to renewable energy development and reduce environmental impact.
Reshaping former mining areas with sustainable energy
Heri Yusuf, the Corporate Secretary of MIND ID, stated that PT Bukit Asam owns former mining sites in Ombilin, West Sumatra, and Tanjung Enim, South Sumatra, with areas of 201 and 224 hectares, respectively.Â
He mentioned that the potential capacity for PLTS in these two former mining sites is 200 Megawatts (MW) each. Additionally, there is also a former mining site in Bantuas, East Kalimantan, with a potential capacity of 30 MW.
“Through PT Bukit Asam, MIND ID is introducing several Solar Power Plant facilities to support infrastructure development needs,” he stated on June 8, 2023.
Cooperating with other companies
Heri highlighted that this plan is part of PT Bukit Asam’s efforts to diversify its operations, transitioning from being a coal-focused company to becoming a sustainable energy company. Over the past three years, PT Bukit Asam has already built PLTS installations in several locations.
For instance, in October 2020, PT Bukit Asam collaborated with PT Angkasa Pura II to install 720 solar panels at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, with a maximum capacity of 241 Kilowatt-peak (kWp).
Furthermore, PT Bukit Asam was also involved in the installation of a 400 kWP PLTS on the Bali-Mandara toll road through synergy with PT Jasa Marga Tbk. The collaboration with Jasa Marga continued with the extension of a memorandum of understanding for installing PLTS on several other toll roads on February 24, 2023.
Currently, PT Bukit Asam is exploring a partnership with PT Timah Tbk for the development of PLTS installations at PT Timah’s operational sites. The signing of a memorandum of understanding for renewable energy development synergy has already taken place on January 26, 2023, through PT Bukit Energi Investama (BEI), a subsidiary of PT Bukit Asam.
The electricity generated from PLTS will be utilized for operational activities such as dredging ships, lighting, and office functions, with the aim of contributing to emissions reduction and more efficient energy costs.
