JAKARTA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) plans to give 5 billion U.S. dollars loan to Indonesia to support the development of electricity sector in the country, top official of the lender said here on Thursday.
The loan is aimed at helping Indonesia to expand its power transmission and power plants of renewable energy, Country Director ADB, Steven R. Tabor said. "This is aimed at helping Indonesia to boost transmission system and distribution, and support clean energy development,"he said at Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
Steven said that the loan is classified as long-term debt with very good grace period.
Indonesia is scrambling to build more electricity projects to meet rising energy demand and boost electrification in the vast archipelago country.
The government aims to set up 35,000 MW power plant project within five years to support the government target of more than 7 percent GDP growth in 2019.
Foreign investors' participation is badly required in the mega projects.
On the same occasion, Indonesia Energy and Mines Minister Sudirman Said said that he needs to talk with the finance ministry and state enterprises ministry to respond on the offer.
