Power supplies in Java-Bali may drop as Saguling dam lacks water

The Saguling hydropower plant in West Java is now unable to produce power at maximum capacity due to the lack of water at the dam, causing worries that it would disturb power supplies on Java and Bali.

The Saguling power plant is one of the major power plants that are connected to the Java-Bali power grid.

I Ngurah Adyana, state owned electricity firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) operational director for Java-Bali, said PLN lost capacity of 1,000 and 1,300 MW since end of February due to among others problems at the Saguling hydropower plant.

"This is because water is decreasing at the Cirata river (that supplies water to the Saguling dam). It's difficult to predict when it (the Saguling power plant) will return to normal," he was quoted by Kontan as saying.

PLN usually use power from Saguling at between 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. the time when power demand is on the rise, he said, adding that PLN has lost a potential revenue of arond Rp 8 billion per day due to the problem at the Saguling power plant. (*)