Industries feel the pinch from massive blackouts in Java, Bali<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The massive blackouts that swept parts of Java and Bali have
\ncaused industries to suffer billions of rupiah in financial
\nlosses due to disruptions in their operations.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Textile Association estimated that more than
\n100 spinning, weaving and garment industries in Greater Jakarta
\nsuffered losses of about Rp 55 billion (US$5.53 million).<\/p>\n
\"Many of our members complained that their machines stopped
\noperating for six hours plus, (and it took) an additional two
\nhours to warm up the machines soon after the power went on
\nagain,\" association executive secretary EG Ismy said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
That figure, he added, did not include the extra losses from
\nthe delays of shipments to customers.<\/p>\n
At 10:23 a.m. on Thursday, a glitch in 500 kilovolt (kv)
\ntransmission line between Cilegon and Saguling in West Java cut
\nstate utility company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN)'s power
\nsupply and caused several power plant units to disengage from the
\nnetwork.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, the Indonesian Automotive Parts and Components
\nIndustries Association executive Yos Rizal Anwar said many
\nbusinesses in the automaker support industry shut down for up to
\neight hours due to the blackouts. He estimated losses of more
\nthan Rp 400 million for each company.<\/p>\n
\"If this (blackout) continues, it will make our products less
\ncompetitive than China or India's manufactured goods. It also
\nhappened not long after PLN announced its plan to increase the
\nelectricity price for industry,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Both Ismy and Yos called on PLN to provide an international-
\nstandard service if it wanted the industry to pay \"international
\nrates\" for power.<\/p>\n
Many large offices and industries did, however, have backup
\ngenerator systems in place. \"Alhamdullilah (Thank God), we didn't
\nhave any problems at the JSX,\" bourse administration director
\nWawan Setiamihardja said.<\/p>\n
Wawan said all computers at the capital market were connected
\nthrough an uninterrupted power system that enabled them to
\ncontinue working for the hour that power was disrupted.<\/p>\n
In Surabaya and Semarang, star-rated hotels did not experience
\nblackouts, also switching to generator power supplies.<\/p>\n
Hyatt Hotel Surabaya spokesman Prima Soemarso said it would be
\nuneconomic for hotels to rely on generators if PLN's power supply
\nwas disrupted for a long period.<\/p>\n
\"If we keep using the generators, our operational costs will
\nincrease drastically,\" he said. (006)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/industries-feel-the-pinch-from-massive-blackouts-in-java-bali-1447893297",
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