Kalimantan faces blackout, 8 towers fell down

At least eight electricity transmission towers from the coal-fired Asam-Asam power plant were cut down and these towers transmit 80 percent of the electricity requirement in South and Central Kalimantan provinces, the Kompas newspaper reported in its Monday edition.

There was a power blackout in these two provinces following the disruption of transmission of electricity. It seems somebody deliberately cut the towers with iron blades and stole them for commercial purpose. The authority, however, does not rule out the possibility of a sabotage motive.

Asam-asam power plant is located in Jorong district, Tanah Laut regency in South Kalimantan.

State-owned electricity PT Perusahaan Listrk Negara (PLN)? general manager for South and Central Kalimantan area Purnomo Willy said that some towers fell down on Friday evening and some on Sunday evening.

?First, three towers fell down and today five more received the same fate. Over all, the total number of towers fell down was eight,? Purnomo said.(*)