Asahan-3 Hydroelectric Power Project
Project details
Project name: Asahan-3 Hydroelectric Power Project
Project location: Sumatera Utara, Indonesia
Installed capacity: 174 MW
Project owner: PT. PLN (Persero)
2024 HSS Assessment
Assessment tool: Hydropower Sustainability Standard
Assessment stage: Operation
Assessment date: 11 - 17 December 2024
HSS Assessment Report:
Public Consultation Form:
Assessor Team
Sustainability assessment overview
The Asahan-3 project has a relatively small footprint and adds limited incremental impacts to a river system that is already heavily modified. The project benefits from PLN’s experience and established environmental, social, and labour management systems, with monitoring in place for water quality, sedimentation, and community health and safety.
Key issues include economic displacement of around 500 landowners during construction and additional impacts on fishing and rafting livelihoods as the project enters operation. Three households were physically resettled. PLN has provided compensation, replacement infrastructure, employment opportunities, and CSR initiatives, and continues to monitor vulnerable groups. Biodiversity impacts are mitigated through forest restoration and reforestation requirements, although uncertainties remain regarding aquatic ecosystems due to altered flow regimes. The project contributes to Indonesia’s climate goals by displacing coal generation and benefits from stable inflows buffered by Lake Toba.
The public consultation period on the Preliminary Assessment Report of Asahan-3 HEPP is open from 28 October 2025 to 27 December 2025.
Submit your comments in ENGLISH or BAHASA
Evidence of the distribution of the assessment report to provide comments is available here.
Learn more about PT. PLN (Persero).
