Business severely hit by massive blackout<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto and Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Bogor<\/p>\n
An hours-long blackout affecting much of Jakarta on Thursday and
\nFriday caused massive losses to small and medium-sized businesses
\nforced to shut their doors while waiting for power to be
\nrestored.<\/p>\n
Srijanto Tjokrosudarmo, chairman of the Association of
\nIndonesian Telephone Kiosk Owners, told The Jakarta Post on
\nFriday a day-long blackout or disruption of power could cause at
\nleast Rp 6 billion in losses to association members.<\/p>\n
There are a total of 30,000 small to medium-sized telephone
\nkiosks across the capital which can make up to Rp 200,000 a day,
\nSrijanto said.<\/p>\n
\"We have yet to take into account those owners who suffered
\neven greater losses because the blackout damaged their
\ncomputers,\" Srijanto said, adding that the association already
\nhad received numerous complaints of damaged computers from
\nmembers.<\/p>\n
Srijanto said the association planned to file a grievance with
\nstate-owned power supplier PLN to recoup the losses.<\/p>\n
The blackout also hit Internet kiosks, which depend on an
\nuninterrupted power supply.<\/p>\n
Michael Sunggiardi, chairman of the Association of Indonesian
\nInternet Kiosk Owners, said the blackout dealt a blow to
\nassociation members.<\/p>\n
\"A small (Internet) kiosk with a minimum of five computers
\ncould suffer losses of Rp 3,000 per computer for each hour of
\ndisruption (in the power supply),\" Michael told the Post.<\/p>\n
There are 300 Internet kiosks in Jakarta that are members of
\nthe association, and many others that are not registered.<\/p>\n
Cahyo, who owns the Meruya Net Internet kiosk, said the
\nblackout cost him Rp 300,000 in losses.<\/p>\n
\"And I still have to pay my two employees who came to work as
\nusual,\" he said.<\/p>\n
If the blackouts continue, Cahyo said, he would go to the
\nIndonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) to file a class action
\nsuit against PLN.<\/p>\n
The blackout also resulted in massive losses for the
\nentertainment and hospitality industry, including small and
\nmedium-sized hotels and restaurants.<\/p>\n
\"Many small and medium-sized hotels and restaurants with no
\naccess to power generators suffered the most from the blackouts,\"
\nsaid Adrian Maelite, secretary-general of the Association of
\nIndonesian Nightspot Owners.<\/p>\n
Adrian said the blackout also prevented potential customers
\nfrom leaving their homes, while at the same time hotel and
\nrestaurant owners had to pay their employees as usual.<\/p>\n
Hendri Suhenda, who owns a juice outlet on Jl. Jend. Sudirman
\nin Central Jakarta, complained that his electric cooler could not
\nbe operated as the building management only supplied enough power
\nfrom the generator for lights.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, many orders have been canceled as our deliverymen
\nwere not allowed to enter other buildings due to the blackout,\"
\nHendri said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, firms in Bogor suffered losses that reached
\nhundreds of millions of rupiah due to the blackout.<\/p>\n
Tiremaker Goodyear, for example, suffered a Rp 300 million
\n(US$33,700) loss as it failed to reach its usual daily production
\nof between 2,000 and 2,500 tires.<\/p>\n
\"We haven't had a generator since 1997 as the neighboring
\nresidents complained about it,\" said Goodyear's corporate
\nsecretary, Sugiama.<\/p>\n
The company has had to dump 600 unfinished tires which were
\nbeing processed when the lights went out.<\/p>\n
Publicly listed PT Semen Cibinong, located in Cileungsi, Bogor
\nregency, also suffered as a result of the blackout.<\/p>\n
\"We had to stop all production because our generator can only
\nprovide enough power for lighting,\" said company spokesman Nico
\nWattimena.<\/p>",
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