Indonesia: PLN admits electricity still too expensive for industry

• Nov 28, 2018

State-owned electricity company PLN has expressed its commitment to lowering the price of electricity for industry, as it is still considered too expensive.

PLN corporate planning director Syofvi Felienty Roekman said in Jakarta on Tuesday that electricity prices had become one of the factors behind investors’ reluctance to invest in the country.

She said that in the next three years, the electricity price could be lowered. “We hope we can lower the electricity price for industry to boost our economy,” said Syofvi as reported by kompas.com.

She stressed that improvements to the country’s electricity infrastructure were still progressing, with more and more power plants under construction as part of the 35,000 megawatts electricity program.

Syofvi believed lower electricity prices would support the country’s investment climate. She also stressed the importance of maintaining supply quality as certain industries and facilities, such as airports, needed a reliable electricity supply as any blackout would cause serious problems.

To lower the electricity price, PLN said, the company would also prioritize the use of domestic energy resources.

“Going forward, we want to develop the power plant industry. We will encourage the Industry Ministry to realize this program,” Syofvi. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/11/28/pln-admits-electricity-still-too-expensive-for-industry.html