Anticipating increasing demand for electrical power in the area, Indonesian power company (PLN) is scheduling to increase power supply to Bali. Additional supply to be delivered is expected to reach four times of current supply.

PLN’s General Manager for East Java and Bali, Nur Pamuji, explained that full delivery is expected to be completed within the next four years. Power supply to be delivered to Bali will come from a number of power plant in Java including Paiton in Probolinggo, East Java. Increasing demand has forced PLN to urge additional supply to the country’s tourism center of Bali. “Bali is the window of Indonesia, we could not let the island blacked out which will certainly destroy tourism industry”, said Pamuji.

At the moment Bali is getting power allocation of 200 mega-watt, most of which consumed by tourism sector luke resort hotels and entertainment facilities. Pamuji told that Bali remains prioritized in getting sufficient power supply. The main delivering channel will remain to come from Java through under-water cable crossing Bali strait which at the moment delivering 150 mega-watt.

In addition to Java, more supply will also come from the new power plants in Bali, including the newly constructed power plant in Celukanbawang, Singaraja, which upon completion will deliver 3 x 150 mega-watt, and scheduled to be completed next year. Delivery of additional power supply to Bali has to be fast-tracked. “We have to avoid lasting blackout in Bali”, Pamuji continued.

The new power plant in Celukanbawang is also expected to bring contribution to Java-Bali integrated power grid, especially considering water generated power plants in Java are loosing their effectiveness due to decreasing water debit. So far power plants which are able to deliver stable output are those with steam turbine fueled by coal.