PLN may extend rotating blackout program

State owned electricity company PLN may extend its rotating power blackout program for another two days due to a possible delay in the resumption of the gas supply to Muara Karang and Tanjung Priok power plants in North Jakarta, Investor Daily reported on Monday.

Muljo Adji AG, the general manage of PLN's power distribution division, said in Jakarta on Saturday that the installation of a new gas pipeline at the two power plants which had caused a massive decline in the power supply in Java would be completed on Monday, May 6, as initially scheduled.

"But the partial power blackout program could not be immediately ended because gas producer BP could only resume the gas supply on Wednesday, May 8," he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

PLN announced recently that there would be a rotating power blackout in some parts of Java and Bali during the period of between May 23 and June 6, this year, due to the construction of new gas pipeline connecting Muara Karang and Tanjung Period power plants, two of the country's major power plants.

The construction of the new gas pipeline has cut off the existing gas supply to the power plant, causing deficit in the power supply in Java and Bali. (*)