South Korean electricity firm PT Idko Eco Jaya Energy is planning to invest in the construction of a micro hydropower plant in East Nusa Tenggara province, an official informed on Tuesday.

The plant will be located on the border between the districts of East Manggarai and Ngada in Flores Island, said Head of the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Investment and Integrated One-Stop Service Office Marsianus Djawa.

"(The plan for the) investment in the construction of a micro hydropower plant is under process. Because of the COVD-19 pandemic, the investor has not visited East Nusa Tenggara," he said.

The construction of the micro hydropower plant, with a planned capacity of up to 35 megawatts, will cost over Rp3 trillion, he said.

The heads of the East Manggarai and Ngada district governments have approved the company's application for a location permit, while the application for other permits, which are under the purview of the provincial government, is still under process, he said.

"We are still in contact (with the investor). But because of the pandemic, the investor is still unable to come here now," he said.

The provincial government is continuing to encourage investors to invest in the energy, tourism, infrastructure, agricultural, and husbandry sectors in the province, he stated.

Therefore, it is ensuring that applications for permit documents are processed immediately and free of charge, he added.

The applications for) permits can be processed in one day, provided (the applicants) have secured technical recommendations from the related agency," he informed.