Partial power blackout hits South Sumatra, Lampung

A partial power blackout again hits a number of important areas in South Sumatra, Bengkulu, Jambi and Lampung following a damage at a power plant in Bukit Asam and a routine maintenance of the Simpang Tiga power plant in Indralaya, Kompas reported on Thursday.

Sjamsu Rizal, PLN's public relations deputy head for South Sumatra, Jambi, Bangkulu and Lampung, said in Palembang on Wednesday that the state owned electricity company was forced to cut off the electricity supply in several areas in the region due to the decline in the power supply.

?The power supply should be rotated every four days,? he said, adding that the stoppage in the two power plants had caused a decline in the power supply by at least 120 megawatt (MW).

According to Samsju, the repair of the 65 MW Bukit Asam power plant was underway while the maintenance works at the Indralaya power plant would be completed by the end of this month.

PLN?s director told Petromindo.com on Thursday that PLN would need at least three days to put back the power supply to a normal condition. (*)