ESB International has landed a €9 million contract to provide consultancy services for a coal-fired power plant in Indonesia.

The Tanjung Jati 1,320MW power plant lies close to Jepara in Central Java. It will be 1½ times the size of the ESB's largest coal-fired plant at Moneypoint, Co Clare.

ESB International's role will be to provide independent consultancy services during the plant's construction, set-up, commissioning and initial operating phase.

The project developer is PT Central Java Power, by Sumitomo Corporation, a leading Japanese trading house, and Indonesian state utility PLN.

When completed, the plant will be leased to PLN, which will operate it for 20 years under a lease agreed with Sumitomo.

In addition to providing consultancy services during the initial stages, ESB International will advise on the setting up of the operational and maintenance role and functions for the plant.

The company will have four engineers on site to oversee the three-year contract. The other company providing consultancy is Eskom Enterprises, the South African utility.

ESB International has been in Indonesia since 1990 when it worked on the Muara Karang and Tambak Lorok combined cycle gas turbine power plants for Sumitomo.

ESB International has been working on another contract in Indonesia since 1993 when it was awarded the operation and maintenance contract for the first independent power producer in Indonesia, PT Cikarang Listrindo.

The firm has provided this plant with the senior management team and has provided other on-site advisory services.

Last month ESB International reported strong turnover growth for 2002, but pre-tax profits fell marginally to €26 million.