Power companies China Huadian Corp and PT Bajradaya Sentranusa of Indonesia are set to start construction of the 180 MW Asahan I hydropower plant in North Sumatra. A 6.6 km-long 8 m-wide tunnel will be built to increase the water level. Most of the tunnel construction would be carried out by local companies, including PT Wijaya Karya, PT Pembangunan Perumahan, PT Waskita Karya and PT Miduk Arta. Visit www.wika.co.id/eng and www.waskita.co.idPreparations at the location are expected to be completed by the end of June so that construction could start in July. Construction of the USD266.67 million project in Porsea, Toba Samosir, would take 39 months. The project would use water from Lake Toba, taken via the Asahan river, to generate primary electricity of 1,175 GWh and secondary electricity of 100 GWh per annum. 23/06.
