Power failure hits Indonesia's S. Kalimantan

Residents in some parts of South Banjarmasin and Teluk Tiram in South Kalimantan had to endure extended power failure.

Similar conditions also hit the neighboring province, Central Kalimantan.

This caused Forum Peduli Banua or the Banua Care Forum, to stage a rally, urging the central government to settle the electrical problems in South Kalimantan.

It has been reported that the frequent blackouts have been caused by problems at Unit 1 and Unit 2 of the steam power plant, PLTU Asam-Asam, in Tanah Laut regency, South Kalimantan.

In South Kalimantan, PLN is currently building two more power units at the PLTU Asam-Asam site.

This project will be followed by the development of three more units.

PLN is also establishing two more power units at the PLTU Pulang Pisau in Central Kalimantan.

The deputy speaker of the South Sulawesi Legislative Council, H. Riswandi, said he hoped the development of three or four additional power units at the PLTU Asam-Asam site would soon be completed in a bid to end the spate of blackouts.

PLN’s operational director for eastern Indonesia, Vickner Sinaga, said on Monday that he hoped residents in South Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan would be patient as the state utility company was trying to end the power problems in the area.

Unlike in Java, the electricity systems in both South Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan did not have enough backup power, according to Vickner.

He added that the firm was aiming to complete work on its two planned coal-fired power plants, each with a capacity to produce around 65 MWs of electricity, by the end of this month.

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