The Blawan Ijen Geothermal Power Plant (PLTP) project in East Java, developed by PT Medco Cahaya Geothermal, is on track to begin commercial operation by December 2024.
The facility will initially produce 34 MW of electricity, contributing to the energy supply for the Java-Bali grid.
PT Medco Cahaya Geothermal is nearing the completion of its Blawan Ijen Geothermal Power Plant (PLTP) in East Java, with commercial operations expected to commence by the end of December 2024.
Ibnu Nurzaman, Senior Manager of External Relations at Medco Cahaya Geothermal, said the infrastructure development for the project is almost finished, positioning Blawan Ijen as the first geothermal power plant in the region ready for operation.
“The construction is progressing as planned, and we are working towards starting operations by the end of December,” Ibnu stated on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.
The Blawan Ijen PLTP is part of the 10-year Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL), which outlines the electricity development projects within PT PLN’s operational areas.
The electricity generated from this facility will supply the Java and Bali regions, addressing the growing demand for energy in these areas.
Currently, Medco is focused on constructing a 150 kV transmission line stretching from the power plant to the PLN substation in Giri, Banyuwangi.
The transmission line covers a distance of approximately 28 kilometers. Out of the 83 towers required for the project, 78 have already been erected, leaving only the final stages of cable installation.
“The towers, standing at heights between 34 to 46 meters, have been designed to meet PLN’s standards. Of the 83 towers, 37 are located on private land, while the rest are situated in forested areas. For those on private land, Medco has also arranged compensation, with the majority of these agreements nearly finalized,” Aditya Negara, Head of Geothermal at PT Medco Cahaya Geothermal, said.
According to data from the Directorate General of New, Renewable Energy, and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), the Blawan Ijen PLTP has a planned production capacity of 110 MW.
The first phase of the project, set to produce 34 MW, is expected to be operational by the end of 2024, while the second phase, with the remaining capacity, is targeted for completion in 2026.
