Jakarta – PT PLN (Persero) is implementing a co-firing programme using biomass as a substitute for coal fuel for its Steam Power Plant (PLTU). The source of this biomass is not only imported from around the PLTU, for example, from Bulukumba, South Sulawesi.
In cooperation with a biomass company from South Sulawesi, PT Bakti Energi Sejahtera (BES YPK), PT PLN Energi Primer Indonesia (PLN EPI) conducted the first unloading of biomass sawdust for the Tanjung Awar Awar Tuban PLTU in early July.
PLN EPI President Director Iwan Agung Firstantara said as much as 5,600 metric tonnes of biomass from sawdust had been docked at the Tanjung Awar-awar PLTU jetty operated by PT PLN Nusantara Power. This biomass supply is one of the efforts to meet the biomass needs of the Tanjung Awar Awar PLTU of 49.7 thousand tonnes.
“This first shipment is a form of PLN EPI’s commitment to ensuring biomass supply to the PLN Group’s PLTU. This biomass supply from South Sulawesi shows that the biomass supply chain is located throughout the network in Indonesia and is ready to fulfil the biomass needs of all PLTU PLN Group,” Iwan said in a written statement.
According to Iwan, previously, biomass shipments to PLTU units only used land transport. This is the first biomass shipment, and PLN EPI is tasked with ensuring that the supply of primary energy to the power plant goes well.
“Transporting biomass by barge integrates the people’s economy between islands. In addition, biomass sources in the form of plantation and forestry waste are abundantly available on large islands in Indonesia to be distributed to fulfil the co-firing needs for 52 PLN power plants,” he explained.
Using biomass derived from wood processing waste also provides more economic benefits to the community. What was previously wasted can now be fully absorbed with PLN’s co-firing programme.
Director of PLN EPI Biomass, Antonius Aris Sudjatmiko, detailed that the biomass from BES YPK is sawdust-type biomass. This biomass departed from Bulukumba Port, South Sulawesi. The barge carried 5,600 tonnes of biomass and sailed for 5 days until it finally arrived at PLTU Tanjung Awar-awar Tuban on Sunday (9/7).
During the first half of 2023, PLN EPI supplied 405,000 tonnes of biomass. This figure increased dramatically compared to the same period last year, where until June 2022, the biomass supply achievement was 255,270 tonnes. This year, the total biomass supply is targeted at 1.08 million tonnes. (Hartatik)
Banner photo: First unloading of biomass sawdust transported by barge from Bulukumba, South Sulawesi for the Tanjung Awar Awar PLTU in Tuban, East Java, Sunday (9/7). (Source: PLN EPI)
