Jakarta. State-owned utility firm PLN announced Saturday that it had made significant progress in the electrification of Malaysia's East Coast Rail Link.

The company's subholding PLN Nusantara Power and its subsidiary PLN Nusantara Power Construction (PLN NPC) have been working on this project and have finished two points. The first one was a feeder station 01 Tunjung, Kelantan, which reached completion 15 days earlier than expected. The other was FS 09 in Jambu Rias, Pahang, one month ahead of the target.

The speedy work earned praise from project partner Tenaga Switchgear and the network owner Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB).

"This is ahead of schedule. This is a very proud achievement. We see PLN demonstrating high commitment and sincerity in ensuring this project's swift completion without compromising on quality," TNB's Head of Project Management Azreen Bin Othman was quoted as saying in a press statement.

The 665-kilometer rail, also known as ECRL, links Selangor's Port Klang and Kelantan's Kota Bharu. The rail will be fully electric for passenger and cargo operations. Estimates show its emission reductions can reach up to 1 million tons of CO₂ per year when it begins operations in 2027.

"We are very satisfied with the results and hope this extraordinary achievement can be replicated in future projects in Pencawang Seberang Jerteh and Gombak," Azreen said.

PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo said the achievement reflected the company's global transformation and expansion as it sought to contribute to Southeast Asia's low-carbon transport infrastructure.

"This success serves as a strategic building block for the PLN Group's international expansion. With our technical competence and experience in the electricity sector, we are confident we can complete the project according to international standards and bring honor to the nation on a global scale," he said.

PLN is part of the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Commissioning (EPCC) consortium in this project. PLN NP is responsible for procuring the main equipment. PLN NPC is in charge of procuring supporting equipment and executing the construction and commissioning work. PLN Group is working on four of the 10 Feeder Stations in the ECRL project: FS1, FS2, FS9, and FS10. The project began in June 2024 and is targeted for full completion by June 2026.

"The faster-than-target completion demonstrates that Indonesian companies are capable of competing and are trusted in strategic, cross-border projects. This is not only a business achievement, but also a source of national pride," PLN Nusantara Power President Director Ruly Firmansyah said.

PLN NPC boasts over 2 decades of experience in the generation and transmission sectors, according to its boss Djarot Hutabri. This gives PLN NPC the confidence to carry out the design and build for the ECRL Feeder Station electrification. This includes the construction of a 132 kV switching station, the installation of a 3-kilometer overhead transmission line (OHL), and an underground cable. PLN NPC will also help ensure the project is completed on time and meets high standards.

"This achievement reflects the capability, professionalism, and commitment of all PLN NPC personnel in providing reliable, timely, and global-standard electricity construction services. The appreciation from TSG and TNB is proof that we are able to provide added value to our strategic partners," Djarot said.