PT BUKIT Asam Tbk, as project operator of the 2x620 megawatt (MW) Sumsel 8 Mine Mouth Steam Power Plant (PLTU), is accelerating the financial closing process of the project. The power plant is scheduled to enter the construction phase in June 2018. Suherman, Corporate Secretary of Bukit Asam, said the company is currently finalizing a number of financial close requirements. "Currently, EPC Contract Coal Supply Agreement and Operation and Maintenance (O&M) contract are finalized,". While waiting for the fulfillment of financial closing requirements, continued Suherman, it has completed the acquisition of land for power plant. Land acquisition for transmission is still in process. "In addition, in parallel we are clearing land for land that has been released and do soil investigation," he explained. Meanwhile, the funding completion process is targeted to be completed on June 17, 2018. The company obtained funding from The Export-Import Bank of China (Cexim) worth US$ 1.7 billion or around Rp23.1 trillion. Thus, the schedule of PLTU Sumsel 8 to operate commercially (Commercial Operation Date/COD) certainly will not retreat from the time specified. The COD process for unit 1 will be completed by December 2021, while for unit 2 will be done in March 2022. Source : www.bisnis.com (Denis Riantiza Meilanova)