Substation Ground Stabilization Project PLTGU Muara Tawar Bekasi with Geotextile Fabric for Base Reinforcement

The Substation Ground Stabilization Project at PLTGU Muara Tawar, Bekasi requires a high level of ground stability, considering the area must support heavy electrical equipment, daily operational vehicle traffic, and continuous vibration and maintenance activities throughout its service life.

One solution that can be applied is the use of non woven geotextile as a separation layer and for light subgrade stabilization. Non woven geotextile with a 150 GSM (PET) specification is commonly selected as a geotextile fabric for ground stabilization in areas with soft soil conditions and high moisture content because it provides good filtration and drainage performance. This material also helps to reduce soil migration and maintain the stability of the aggregate layer above the subgrade under light to medium-duty conditions.

Key Challenges at PLTGU Muara Tawar Bekasi

From a technical standpoint, the substation and operational areas at PLTGU Muara Tawar carry heavy, repetitive loads from electrical equipment, daily vehicle traffic, and heavy machinery during installation and maintenance. If the subgrade is weak, these loads can lead to rutting, differential settlement, and cracking of pavements or working platforms.

As a coastal site, PLTGU Muara Tawar also has high humidity and a shallow groundwater table, making the soil prone to saturation and reduced bearing capacity. In wet conditions, fine particles can migrate into the aggregate base; without proper separation and soil reinforcement, contamination increases, interlock weakens, and the base layer degrades, impacting access roads and key equipment routes.

Why Base Reinforcement is Critical for the PLTGU Muara Tawar Substation Area

PLTGU Muara Tawar in Bekasi has an installed capacity of 2,290 MW and plays a vital role in maintaining the reliability of the Java–Madura–Bali (Jamali) power system, particularly for the greater Jakarta area. As a key facility supporting “ring 1” power reliability, the substation requires construction standards that are significantly stricter than typical civil projects.

Ground stability directly impacts operational safety and efficiency. The substation area must allow quick and uninterrupted access for operational vehicles, emergency response, and maintenance activities.  Any uneven surface conditions or localized settlement can disrupt equipment movement, damage access routes, and increase the risk of workplace incidents. 

Therefore, soil reinforcement through base reinforcement is essential to distribute loads more evenly, reduce lateral soil movement, lock the aggregate layer in place, and maintain separation between subgrade and base aggregate, keeping the foundation layers stable even under humid and wet conditions.

Using Non-Woven PET Geotextile Fabric 150 GSM PET for Base Reinforcement at PLTGU Muara Tawar, Bekasi

To handle soft, water-saturated subgrade and moderate operational loads at PLTGU Muara Tawar, Bekasi, one practical solution is the use of non woven PET geotextile (150 GSM).

With its good permeability and random fiber structure, this material allows water to drain effectively while helping reduce soil migration into the aggregate layer and minimizing minor pore water buildup under wet conditions. It also supports separation and drainage performance, helping maintain the stability of the base layer in humid conditions and after rainfall.

Therefore, in the PLTGU Muara Tawar project, non woven geotextile is mainly utilized for its separation, filtration, and drainage functions rather than heavy structural reinforcement. This is important to help keep operational access roads and working areas more stable under wet and humid site conditions. In this project, it is primarily selected for three key reasons:

1. Improving Filtration and Drainage Performance in the Project Area

Non woven geotextile has a high water flow capacity, making it effective for areas with high moisture content such as Muara Tawar. With its fiber structure and good permeability, this material helps drain water from the soil layer without disturbing the aggregate arrangement above it.

The 150 GSM non woven geotextile allows water to pass through while helping retain fine soil particles, reducing soil migration into the aggregate layer. It also helps improve separation and drainage performance, minimizing the risk of minor clogging and maintaining the stability of the base layer in light to medium-duty applications, especially in humid conditions or after rainfall.

2. Separation Between the Subgrade and Aggregate Layer

Under soft soil conditions at PLTGU Muara Tawar Bekasi, the aggregate layer can easily mix with the subgrade due to vehicle traffic, equipment vibration, and repeated loading. This contamination may reduce aggregate interlock and gradually decrease the stability of the base layer.

The 150 GSM non woven geotextile acts as a separation layer that helps reduce the migration of fine soil particles into the aggregate layer. By maintaining better separation between the subgrade and aggregate, this material helps support more consistent load distribution and minimizes the risk of minor settlement, rutting, and surface deterioration on access roads and working areas under light to medium-duty conditions.

3. Reducing Localized Settlement

By keeping the aggregate distribution more uniform and reducing contamination from the subgrade soil, non woven geotextile helps minimize localized settlement in operational areas and heavy equipment access routes.

The geotextile layer supports better separation between the soft subgrade and the aggregate base, allowing the load from vehicles and equipment to spread more evenly across the surface. This improves soil reinforcement, reduces the risk of uneven deformation, rutting, and weak spots, and helps maintain a more stable and reliable working platform over time.

For more information about Geotextile Non Woven please contact: Whatsapp/Mobile Phone: +62 822 9933 3938 (Ms. Panni) or Email : info@baligeotex.com