West Sumatra, Riau and Jambi face power crisis

Three provinces – West Sumatra, Riau and Jambi – on Sumatra island have been facing an electricity crisis since June 11 following a drop in water elevation at several hydro electricity plants and malfunctioning of other power plants, the Kompas newspaper reported in its Wednesday edition.

PT PLN’s deputy manager for West Sumatra Yusman Sutan Mudo said the water elevation dropped at hydro electricity plants at Singkarak and Maninjau. There is also malfunctioning of coal-fired power plant at Ombilin Unit I and II in Sawahlunto town.

As a result, there is a daily black out in every town or regency in West Sumatra on a rotational basis.

Yusman said the black out is necessary to anticipate a long drought.

“Water elevation which roll power plant’s turbine would drop by around three centimeter per day if all the four turbines in operation. If the black out policy is not implemented, the major risk will be the water level in the lake will be worsened fast and West Sumatra, Riau and Jambi, which are connected, will face complete black out,” Yusman said in Padang on Tuesday. (*)