Kotabaru, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Kotabaru DPRD Speaker Syairi Mukhlis said that the proses of building a 69 megavolt amps (MVA) power plant in Kelumpang Barat sub-district by PT Sumber Daya Energi (SDE) is still constrained by permits.
Although PT PLN for the South and Central Kalimantan Region and PT SDE/Qinfa Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in September 2020, the construction has not yet begun.
"The delay in the development was due to the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, while the licensing regarding the borrow and use of forest area from the central government was also hampered," said Syairi.
Forestry, he continued, is under the authority of the central government through the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, not in the domain of the district or even the provincial government. Regions can only provide recommendations or input.
Regarding the even distribution of electricity that has not been fully fulfilled in Kotabaru (Kambatang area), the PDIP politician suggested PT PLN increases the network considering that PLN's capacity is still able to supply the network up to the remote areas.
"Especially after the network interconnection has been used, through the village electricity program this problem can be resolved," Syairi pointed out.
Another solution, he said, areas that previously used diesel power plant (PLTD), but later were connected to the interconnection network, they could send their diesel to areas that have not been touched by electricity.
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