The steam power plant (PLTU) located in Suak Puntong Village, Kuala Pesisir Sub-District, Nagan Raya District, is called Nagan Raya Power Plant.
The existence of the Nagan Raya power plant that will strengthen the resilience of the electricity system in Aceh will ultimately support a conducive investment climate in Aceh. Moreover, Aceh is still in great need of infrastructure and physical development in order to support post-tsunami economic development.
Based on information developed in Aceh, the biggest obstacle for investors to invest in Aceh is the limited energy resources. "The information we received from the Regional Investment Coordinating Board (BKPMD) and Bapeda Aceh, investment in Aceh is hampered because there is no electricity. This is not entirely wrong because there is a waiting list of electricity needs of business people, "said Sulaiman.
Thus, the existence of the Nagan Raya power plant, of course, is expected to provide other "tuah" in the form of investor interest to invest in Aceh. The availability of large-scale power plants is of course expected to attract investors to invest in Aceh.
In addition to non-electric business actors, according to Sulaiman, PLN Aceh region has so far tried to encourage investors in the electricity sector to develop and build power plants, especially power plants that use alternative energy.
The support of Aceh's local government, from the district / city to the provincial level, is expected to increase investor interest in the electricity sector to invest.
The constraint on the development of private power plants so far is the creation of a conducive investment climate. That is why, in some areas in Aceh that provide convenience to investors in the electricity sector, every month there is a significant amount of revenue for the region related to the construction of power plants, especially micro-scale power plants.
If viewed further, actually Aceh has the potential of environmentally friendly alternative energy is large enough. According to the PLN Aceh region, the potential of environmentally friendly alternative energy in Aceh reaches 1,500 MW which is generally located in the mountains. Most of the alternative energy is water energy or hydropower. A number of studies conducted in Aceh indicate that PLTA Peusangan able to generate electricity about 86.4 MW, PLTA Tampur about 428 MW, Lawe Alas 216 MW, and 15 MW Peudada Power Plant.
Aceh also has geothermal energy potential which is estimated to reach 300 MW. Currently, the local government of Aceh is conducting an auction of 55 MW geothermal power plant (PLTP) to be explored. By 2015 it is expected that the use of hydropower in Aceh can reach 50% of the electricity system in the area so that it can prosper the area while lowering PLN production cost.
Based on data from PLN in Aceh, the number of electricity customers in Aceh now reaches 1.070.0000 subscribers. From now on and onwards, PLN Aceh region is trying to develop the use of prepaid electricity for new customers of electricity.
According to Sulaiman, PLN Aceh region only do the installation of prepaid electricity for new customers. Some people think it looks happy with prepaid because there is a kind of bargaining for the public to get special services for PLN, especially when there is power failure.
Meanwhile, according to Deputy Manager of Communications and Law of State Electricity Company (PLN) of Aceh Region, Said Mukarram, prepaid electricity service is a service that provides ease of using electricity for customers. Especially for customers who have the status of a house tenant or boarding house. Through a prepaid system, customers feel more profitable because they do not have to pay a fee or a burden if not using electricity. "So the management and its users really as needed," said Said.
Said added that PLN Aceh region currently provides 4,000 units of pre-paid electricity meter for customers throughout Aceh Province. Since mid 2012, 155 units of prepaid electricity meter have been used by customers in Aceh Singkil and Banda Aceh districts.
Increasing the electrification ratio at once increases the range of electricity users in Aceh is still a serious concern PLN Aceh region. According to PLN's data in Aceh, the electrification ratio in Aceh is the second highest after DKI Jakarta.
According to the PLN Aceh region, now there are no more districts in Aceh whose electrification ratio is below 60%. Even some areas have electrification ratio up to 100% as in Sabang, Banda Aceh, Aceh Jaya.
Nevertheless, the process of increasing the electrification ratio in Aceh is not an easy matter because it requires a long process. For a long time, Aceh has pioneered electricity into villages. One thing that supports the development and distribution of electricity in Aceh is almost all regions have roads, making it easier for PLN to build electricity network.
Some areas that are not covered by PLN, some actually have independent power grid by building a micro hydro power plant (PLTMH) built by the local government and some of them in cooperation with Non-Governmental Organizations.
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