Indonesia's largest hydropower plant built by Chinese firm tops out in full

The dam at the Batang Hydropower Station in Indonesia, built by a Chinese company, is fully capped, which is a major milestone in the construction of the project.Construction of the project accelerated after it was recognized in November 2021, with the dam opening in January 2022, the river cut-off in July 2023, and the first concrete pour completed in November. The dam is located on the Batantolu River in North Sumatra Province and is a strategic national project for Indonesia. The dam is a concrete arc gravity dam with a crest elevation of 436 meters, a length of 140.27 meters and a maximum dam height of 74 meters, with a total installed capacity of 510 MW and an estimated annual power generation of 2,228.14 GWh. The technical team has optimized the design scheme and strengthened on-site control to ensure the high quality and high efficiency of the dam in view of the complex geological conditions and construction difficulties. As a model of Sino-Indian energy cooperation and a practice of green development under the "Belt and Road", the hydropower plant utilizes hydropower to generate electricity, alleviate the pressure on local power supply, improve the energy structure of Sumatra Island, reduce coal consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to environmental protection and economic development.