PT PLN (Persero) ensures that the operation of the Suralaya steam power plant (PLTU) in Cilegon, Banten during the Christmas and New Year (Nataru) 2023 holiday period is safe. The readiness is because the primary energy supply has been met for up to 30 days of operation (HOP).
During his visit to PLTU Suralaya, Sunday (25/12/2022), the Minister of Energy Resources and Minerals (ESDM), Arifin Tasrif, represented by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Rida Mulyana, ensured that the energy supply for the community in this Nataru moment was guaranteed.
Moreover, according to Rida, PLTU Suralaya in particular is one of the backbones of the Java Madura and Bali (Jamali) electricity system. The reliability of primary energy supply for plant operations is one of the keys to the safety of electricity availability today.
"Its significant role is for the Jamali system so we ensure that the supply chain starts from primary energy to the readiness of its operators to the provision of electricity to the community, we can ensure that it is achieved," said Rida in a press statement, Monday (26/12/2022).
Also present at the visit were PLT Director General of Electricity of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Dadan Kusdiana, Director of Generation of PLN, Adi Lumakso and President Director of PLN Indonesia Power, Edwin Nugraha Putra.
On a different occasion, President Director of PT PLN (Persero) Darmawan Prasodjo said he was optimistic that the plant with a total capacity of 3,400 megawatts (MW) could operate to meet the electricity needs of the Jamali system during Nataru 2023. With this capacity, the Suralaya power plant supplies around 12% of the electricity needs in the Jamali system, so this power plant has a vital role for Jamali's electricity.
"If Nataru last year the condition of coal supply in Suralaya was a bit critical, this year is very good, and it has become the best HOP in history. This achievement is the fruit of collaboration between the Government, PLN and all stakeholders," said Darmawan.
In Nataru 2022, the condition of coal supply at the Suralaya power plant was in a crisis point with a HOP of less than 7 days. Meanwhile, in Nataru 2023, coal supply reaches 30 HOP.
According to Darmawan, this achievement is the result of PLN's efforts together with the Government and stakeholders in the domestic coal industry, always synergizing and coordinating to make efforts to ensure the availability of primary energy is met.
In terms of supervision, since the beginning of 2022, PLN has made a paradigm shift in monitoring and controlling coal supply. Originally, supervision only focused on the estimated time of arrival (ETA) now it has become focused on the loading point.
Supervision steps are carried out not only through physical in the field but also by integrating the digital monitoring system between the PLN system and the system at the Directorate General of Minerals and Coal of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. This system provides information on loading targets and is integrated with the system at the Directorate General of Minerals and Coal of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources which records the realization of loading from each supplier.
"With a system like this, if there is a potential supply failure due to the availability of coal and its transportation fleet, it will be detected earlier. Not only that, corrective action can be carried out as early as possible so that certainty of supply can be better maintained," concluded Darmawan.
Image source: PT PLN
