Indonesia eyes electricity exports to neighboring countries

Indonesia plans to sell electricity to Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore as the government is targeting greater profitability from several coal mine-mouth power plants that are anticipated to soon be completed in Sumatra.

National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) head Bambang Brodjonegoro said the plan was feasible as the power plants would have excess capacity.

“We can sell the electricity abroad via underwater cables,” the former finance minister said during the ASEAN G2B Infrastructure Investment Forum in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Bambang said electricity demands were huge in peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand, where Indonesia could meet those demands at competitive prices.

“As long as Sumatra’s electricity needs are fulfilled, we can export the excess capacity,” he added.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration is targeting to complete its ongoing 35,000 megawatt (MW) electricity procurement program by 2019. Of the target, 7,800 MW will be supplied from mine-mouth power plants.