President Jokowi Visits Sebalang Power Plant

Tarahan, Lampung, Nov 25 (ANTARA Lampung) - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and his entourage visited the Sebalang thermal power plant in South Lampung district on Tuesday as part of efforts to monitor the latest supplies of electricity in Lampung province.

The president visited the power plant in the company of Transportation Minister Ignatius Jonan, State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said, and Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono.

During the visit, Jokowi was briefed about the latest energy supplies---particularly about ones in Lampung province and generally about those in Sumatra---as well as about hindrances to the development of power plants to achieve self-reliance in energy.

One of the hindrances to the construction of power plants in Lampung was land clearance. "I will ask the forestry minister to facilitate land clearance processes," he affirmed.

Moreover, the president reiterated his determination to overcome the electricity crisis in Sumatra and in the rest of Indonesia within five years.

Jokowi added that his visit to Lampung was to ensure the construction of power plants in the province.

He expressed hope that Sumatra Island will not face any power shortage in the next five years.

Jokowi`s visit to Lampung is his third such working visit since being inaugurated as the country`s seventh president on October 20.