Bukaka to send some power to Central Sulawesi

National News - September 25, 2006
Ruslan Sangadji
The Jakarta Post
Palu

Private investment company PT Bukaka Hydropower has agreed to allot at least 30 percent of power generated by the Sulewana hydropower plant project, known as Poso 2, for power needs in Central Sulawesi.

The agreement was reached in a meeting between representatives of PT Bukaka, its partner PT Poso Energy and Central Sulawesi Governor Bandjela Paliudju and regents throughout the Central Sulawesi province in Parigi Moutong regency last week.

The agreement was reached after a heated debate over PT Bukaka's intention to supply most of its power production from the 180-megawatt Poso 2 power plant to nickel company PT Inco in Soroako, South Sulawesi, and state-owned mining company PT Aneka Tambang in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi.

Upon hearing that most of the power from the power plant project would be channeled out to other provinces as disclosed at the meeting by Poso Energy director Heru Husaini, Governor Paliudju, the regents and Central Sulawesi legislators were enraged.

"It's clearly inappropriate if natural resources in Central Sulawesi are not tapped for the province, but for its neighboring provinces. What will Central Sulawesi get from such exploitation?" asked Paliudju.

He urged both PT Bukaka and PT Poso Energy to pay more attention to the region where their investment lies.

Paliudju's view was shared by head of the development commission of the Central Sulawesi Legislative Council, Muharram Nurdin, who said that PT Bukaka and PT Poso Energy had offended the sentiments of the Central Sulawesi people.

"If this is how it is going to be, PT Bukaka and PT Poso Energy may as well leave Central Sulawesi," Muharram said.

He said it would be better to not have any investment in Central Sulawesi if it only burdened the local people.

Central Sulawesi regents, including Parigi Moutong Regent Longky Djanggola, Morowali Regent Datlin Tamalagi and Poso Deputy Regent Abd Muthalib Rimi also expressed their displeasure.

"I will ask my people to pull down the electricity transmission towers if the electricity is not for Central Sulawesi," said Longky Djanggola.

After a heated argument the governor and Irsal Kamaruddin of PT Bukaka and Heru Husaini of PT Poso Energy agreed that Bukaka would share part of its power production in Central Sulawesi.

Under the agreement, PT Bukaka and PT Poso Energy have agreed to reserve 30 percent of power generated from Poso 2 for Central Sulawesi.

Meanwhile, in order to maintain the water supply needed to generate power, the Central Sulawesi provincial administration has agreed to protect nearby forests and their catchment areas.***