Power supply for Java and Bali in critical condition

The power supply for the Java and Bali power grid fell sharply on Thursday after state owned electricity company PLN's two major power plants failed to operate normally due to the lack of fuel and gas supply, Investor Daily reported on Friday.

General manager of PLN's power distribution and traffic control Muldjo Adji said in Jakarta on Thursday that the power supply for the Java and Bali transmission grid suffered a deficit of about 446 MW during peak hours on Thursday.

He said that the unexpected drop in the power supply occurred because the Gresik and Muara Tawar power plants could not be fully operated due to the delay in the fuel supply from Pertamina.

"The Muara Tawar plant which has a capacity to produce 840 MW of power supply can not be operated normally because the power plant run out of fuels including high speed diesel and marine fuel," he said.

He said that the same condition occurred at the gas fired Gresik power plant which could not also be fully operated due to the lack of gas supply.

Muldjo Adji appealed the customers to reduce the electricity use especially during the peak hours in order to prevent massive blackout. He hoped that the power supply would be normal again during the next few days. (*)