Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia \u2014 PT PLN (Persero) has apologised and\nprovided an explanation to the public regarding electricity disruptions\naffecting parts of Sumatra since 18:44 yesterday. PLN\u2019s President\nDirector Darmawan Prasodjo said the company immediately reported the\nsituation to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).<\/p>\n
\u2018On behalf of PT PLN (Persero), we extend our deepest apologies to\nall communities across Sumatra, particularly in Jambi, West Sumatra,\nRiau, North Sumatra and Aceh, for the disturbances in the electricity\nsystem since yesterday evening,\u2019 he said during a virtual press\nconference on Saturday, 23 May 2026.<\/p>\n
Darmawan indicated that the ministry had directed PLN to continue\ntaking measures to correct and improve Sumatra\u2019s electricity system,\nwhich has been experiencing disruptions. As an initial indication, a 275\nkV transmission line between Muara Bungo and Sungai Rumbai in Jambi was\ntriggered by adverse weather, leading to a disturbance in the\ntransmission system and causing the line to leave the Sumatra grid.<\/p>\n
\u2018The impact was a shock to our power plants,\u2019 he explained. He\ndescribed that in some areas, load loss caused oversupply, the system\nfrequency rose and voltage increased, prompting plants to trip\nautomatically. \u2018In public terms, the plants automatically shut down.\u2019\nThere were also areas with a deficit because generation remained low,\ncausing the frequency to fall and the voltage to drop, which placed a\nburden on plants and caused them to trip from the grid\nautomatically.<\/p>\n
\u2018And we acknowledge that this condition proved to spread in a domino\neffect, causing disturbances in the power system from Jambi, Riau, North\nSumatra to Aceh. This was a fairly widespread electrical disturbance\nacross Sumatra,\u2019 he emphasised.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged electricity is a basic need for people, both for\nvital facilities, households and economic activity. \u2018Therefore we repeat\nour apology. After the incident we immediately deployed the full\nstrength of our team.\u2019<\/p>\n
He added that PLN had carried out assessments of damage to main\nsubstations and the transmission system. Within around two hours, the\nsubstations and transmission network had been restored. \u2018This is a very\ndifferent situation from the North Sumatra, West Sumatra and Aceh\ndisaster in which there was physical damage, with towers fallen and\nlines severed. Today we can say the substations and transmission system\nhave recovered,\u2019 he stated.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, he added, PLN will be able to restart the plants\naffected by the domino effect last night. \u2018The steps are: first, restart\ngeneration; second, connect those generators to the transmission system\nthrough the substations; and third, synchronise. We recognise that the\npower system comprises various types of generation.\u2019<\/p>\n
Earlier, blackouts were recorded across several parts of Sumatra.\nResidents reported outages from around 19:00 on Friday, 22 May 2026.\nRestorations were not uniform but gradual. Some areas returned to normal\nby Friday night around 21:00; others only recovered in the early hours\nof Saturday, 23 May 2026.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pln-explains-hours-long-power-outages-across-sumatra-region-1779531654", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }