Indonesian national power utility PT PLN plans to develop the 500 kV power transmission grid along the eastern side of the island of Sumatra (Indonesia) to create an "electric highway" from generating centers to the load centers in the island of Sumatra. Four 500 kV sections will be built: two between AurDuri and the Jambi-Riau border, a line from this border to the New Garuda Sakti point (in Riau) and two between this point and Rengat. The transmission network, whose construction will start in 2014 and should be completed in 2017, will back the development of new power plants, such as the 2x400 MW Jambi power plant, the 2x300 MW Sumsel-6 and the 2x150 MW Sumsel-7. It will also secure power supply in Sumatra where the electric load grows by 10%/year on average (latest peak of 4,483 MW).
For the second phase, planned to begin in 2016, PLN will build new 500 kV transmission lines connecting Aur Duri and Muaraenim in South Sumatra. The third stage will consist in connecting Garuda Sakti to Medan by 2020.