Power blackout hits Lampung and South Sumatra

Power blackout has hits some parts of South Sumatra and Lampung provinces due to damages in a number of power plants which supply the electricity to the power interconnection grid linking the two provinces, Kompas reported on Friday.

Arief Muryoto, a senior official of state electricity company PLN?s office in Bandar Lampung said on Thursday that the company had cut off the electricity supply in some parts of the province since Wednesday due to the shortage of the power supply.

"We have to rotate the power supply from one area to another in every 2.5 hours due to the shortage of the power supply," he said.

PLN?s customers in Palembang and other parts of South Sumatra province could not also receive their electricity supply. In some parts of Palembang, the power blackout has occurred for almost two days.

According to PLN, the blackout occurred following the breakdown of three power plants in the province, including the 65 MW-steam power plant in Bakit Asam, Tanjung Enim, the Simpang Tiga power plant in Komering and the Keramasan power plant in Palembang.

The Bukit Asam and Keramasan power plants have operated normally but the power black out still continued in some parts of Lampung and South Sumatra. The Simpang Tiga power plant is expected to start its normal operation beginning next week. (*)