Palembang, S Sumatra (ANTARA News) - A solar power plant in Jakabaring, South Sumatra, will be built soon to meet the demand for electricity during the Asian Games 2018 in the area, an official stated.

The solar power plant, a project under the cooperation between Indonesia and Japan, will soon be developed, as the Japanese side has been ready, Assistant Deputy to the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Rizal Edwin Manansang noted here on Wednesday.

He said the plant will soon be developed, as the energy produced by it is needed during the Asian Games. The project is to be developed in cooperation between the Japanese government and the local government of South Sumatra Province.

The project is developed under a joint credit scheme. Thus, the issue of huge funds needed for the project could be overcome.

South Sumatra Province and Jakarta will host the Asian Games 2018.

In the meantime, Director of PD Pertambangan Energi of South Sumatra A. Yaniarsyah Hasan remarked that the project is expected to become operational in early 2018.

For the first phase, the plant will have a capacity of two megawatts, and later it will continue to be increased.

Head of the Energy and Mineral Resources Service of South Sumatra Robert Heri pointed to the pressing need for solar energy to support the clean air policy.

"This project is one of the programs aimed to make a city pollution-free," he added. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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