ESDM Targets End-2026 Start for 510 MW Batang Toru Hydropower Plant

The reservoir at the Batang Toru hydropower plant began filling on Friday, 9 October 2026, a step the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) says must precede testing and grid connection. Deputy Minister Yuliot Tanjung said the 510-megawatt facility in South Tapanuli, North Sumatra, is targeted to begin commercial operation by the end of 2026. According to Tempo, he described the impoundment as a critical stage before the plant is linked to PT PLN's transmission network.

Yuliot said the filling process is needed to verify the readiness of the plant's components, including the powerhouse, the reservoir's water level against its target and the delivery of power to the transmission system. He added that without the reservoir in place, testing of the facilities would not be possible. Filling and instrument checks were accelerated in the fourth quarter of 2026, with instrument testing scheduled to run for two weeks.

After that testing period, the developer will run a trial supply of electricity into PLN's grid before the plant formally enters operation. Yuliot said ESDM will issue a certificate of operational fitness once it confirms all facilities are working properly, adding that the ministry's remaining task is to make sure everything runs well.

Northern Sumatra's electricity supply is currently supported by power sent from southern Sumatra through the transmission network. Yuliot said electricity demand in North Sumatra is growing by roughly 100 to 120 megawatts each year, and that the new plant is expected to cover the province's needs for the next four to five years. He also noted the timing ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays, when consumption typically rises.

Batang Toru is a national strategic project valued at Rp 21.6 trillion and is being developed by PT North Sumatera Hydro Energy. The plant comprises four generating units, each with a capacity of 127.5 megawatts.