PLN restores one power plant, reduces rolling blackouts in Java

By Calvin Purba

State electricity utility PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) said one of the power plants whose disruption prompted limited rolling blackouts in parts of Java has resumed operations, helping improve the reliability of the island's power system.

PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo said the restored plant, operated by an independent power producer (IPP), was synchronized with the Java grid on Sunday evening and had begun supplying electricity.

"We would like to share some good news. One of the power plants has been successfully restored and, at 6:00 p.m. today, was synchronized with the Java power system and began supplying electricity to improve the reliability of the power system on the island," Darmawan said during a press conference on Sunday (June 21).

Darmawan did not specify which power plant had been repaired or which plant remains affected by disruptions.

With the completion of the repair work, Darmawan said that the implementation of limited rolling blackouts could be reduced, indicating that limited blackouts may still occur.

"Therefore, the rolling blackouts that occurred last week have now been successfully minimized," Darmawan said.

Previously, Darmawan said that PLN has secured medium-grade coal supplies for coal-fired power plants (PLTUs) across Java. Shipments of medium-grade coal had begun arriving at power plants across Java, and the utility had accelerated contract signings with government-assigned coal suppliers.

"We have also accelerated the contract-signing process with coal suppliers, particularly those supplying medium-grade coal that have been assigned by the government," Darmawan said during a press conference on Friday.

Speaking at a hearing with Commission XII of the House of Representatives, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said PLN's annual coal requirement is around 154 million metric tons. To meet that demand, the government has assigned coal miners to supply about 190 million tons under its Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) scheme.

"Of the 190 million tons assigned, around 150 million to 160 million tons have been confirmed, while 134 million tons have already been contracted," Bahlil said.

The minister said PLN still needs to secure around 20 million tons of coal to fully meet its annual requirement.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak