Another technical problem hits Suralaya power plant
Thursday, August 25 2005 - 02:12 AM WIB
The power supply for the Java and Bali transmission network has suffered a deficit of about 410 MW due to a failure in the third unit of the Suralaya power plant in Merak, Banten, newspapers reported on Thursday.
A technical problem reoccurred at the third generators of the Suralaya power plant on Wednesday only two days after it resumed its normal operation. The failure has worsened the power supply for the Java and Bali power transmission network because Paiton VII power plant in East Java has yet to resume its operation.
"The failure has caused a power supply deficit of about 410 MW during peak hours," PLN's director for power generation and primary energy, Ali Herman said on Wednesday.
Although Herman denied that the power supply condition was in critical condition, he said that PLN was in full alert to take risk such as by cutting the power supply in several areas especially during the peak hours.
But he said he was optimistic that both the Paiton VII and the third unit of the Suralaya power plant would soon be able to begin their normal operation. "Repair works are underway in both power plants and we hope they will soon be able to operate," he added.
PLN said Wednesday that the power supply had returned to its normal condition after the resumption of the third unit of the Suralaya power plant which earlier in the week was stopped from operating due to a technical problem in its boiler. However, similar technical problem reoccurred on Thursday, cutting a significant amount of power supply from the Suralaya power complex. (*)