Blackout hits Central and South Kalimantan

A sudden stoppage of power supplies from the 2x65 MW Asam-Asam power plant owned by state owned electricity firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) in Tanah Laut, South Kalimantan caused a blackout on Wednesday, Kompas reported.

The blackout hit the provinces in 2 p.m. but PLN managed to resume supplies to some areas of the provinces after it operated all its diesel and hydropower plants in the provinces.

Priyo Basuki, PLN's Power Plant Manager for South Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan, said in Banjarmasin, S

South Kalimantan, that the firm is investigating into the cause of the sudden stoppage of power supply.

According to Priyo, power supplies in the provinces are running at 95 MW, as against the normal supply of 260 MW.

Meanwhile, Wahidin Sitompul, General Manager of PLN South and Central Kalimantan said that to solve the power crisis in the provinces, his office planned to lease a 60 MW power plant and it expected PLN's central office in Jakarta to apporove of its plan. He however did not specify the power plant. (*)