Two power plants in Lampung stop operation, causing acute power shortage

Two major power plants in Lampung have stopped operation since late February, causing an acute power supply shortage in the South Sumatra power transmission network, Kompas reported on Saturday.

The manager of PLN's power traffic control for the South Sumatara power grid, Marna Sumarna, said in Palembang Friday that that Batu Tegi and Tarahan power plants in Lampung had stopped operation since late February.

"As the result, the power supply in the South Sumatra power grid has suffered a deficit of at least 20 MW," he said, adding that the local unit of PLN had to conduct a rotating power blackout in some parts of Lampung due to the power problem.

He said that the 28-MW Batu Tegi hydropower plant had stopped its operation since late February because the decline in the water supply to generate its power generator. "The plant's dam had dried up because most of the existing water sources are used for irrigation," he added.

The 18 MW Tarahan power plant, also located in Lampung, had also stopped its operation for the past several days due to a damage in the main gear of its power generator.

In addition to the two power plants, the 65 MW Bukit Asam coal-fired power plant in Tanjung Enim, South Sumatra could not operate at its full capacity due to a technical problem on its turbine. "The technical problem also occurred at the Borang steam power plant in Banyuasin, causing a further decline in the power supply," he added. (*)