(EnergyAsia, February 13 2012, Monday) — A consortium of Japanese companies comprising Sumitomo Corp, Toshiba Corp, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd (MHI) said it and other stakeholders have completed the expansion of the 2,640MW Tanjung Jati B coal-fired power plant in Indonesia.
 
The consortium said it completed the plant’s 660MW Unit 4 on January 1 and the 660MW Unit 3 earlier on October 13, adding to the plant’s existing two units to account for about 13% of the power supply for the country’s Java-Bali power system.

Achieved three months ahead of schedule, the expansion meets the Indonesian government’s programmes launched in 2006 and 2010 to solve the country’s rising power shortages brought on by its growing economy.

Last week, state utility PLN held a ceremony celebrating the project’s completion that was attended by Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Jero Wacik, the governor of Central Java Province and other Indonesian government officials, representatives from Japanese companies involved in the construction, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Nippon Export and Investment Insurance, and private banks.

Speaking at the event, Sumitomo Corporation’s President Susumu Kato said:

“Between June 2006 when we proposed the expansion work to PLN and the end of fiscal 2008 when we signed the lease agreement, and even after starting the construction work, we faced various difficulties which we had to overcome.

“I am pleased to be here today to celebrate the results of hard work and commitment of individuals from both Indonesia and Japan who addressed the challenges head-on with enthusiasm and overcame the barriers.”

Toshiba’s President Norio Sasaki said:

“We believe that the steam turbine generators we provided for this project will contribute to the safe and efficient operation of TJB. Toshiba will continue to provide highly reliable and efficient power-generating equipment for coal-fired power plants as a base load power source, as well as for geothermal power generation systems, which is expected to gain greater importance as a renewable energy source.”

MES’s President Yasuhiko Kato said:

“We are thankful for the opportunity to have undertaken the engineering, procurement and construction of the entire civil and architectural works for the Plant on a design and build basis.  We will continue to operate our business including such civil and architectural works for the thermal power plants which are in great demand particularly in the emerging markets, by utilising the expertise and know-how we have acquired as a general engineering enterprise for years.”