The Public Works and Public Housing Ministry will offer 33 hydroelectric power plant (PLTA) projects to potential investors next year, in a bid to further the use of the country’s existing dams for power generators.

The ministry is currently assessing a total of 203 existing dams to ascertain their capacity and hydropower potential, water resources administration director Arie Setiadi Moerwanto said on Friday.

Of the country’s existing 203 dams, only around 5 per cent have already been developed for use in power-generation.

“We are currently conducting a study to look at the potential of the existing dams to produce energy. We hope to have the study completed in December,” Arie told reporters on Friday.

The dams with the most potential include Lodoyo, Karangkates III and Karangkates IV in Malang as well as Kesamben in Blitar, East Java, according to Arie.