Batam Blackout Was Not Caused by Coal, PLN Explains

An electricity disruption that caused a blackout in Batam and affected public services has drawn the government’s attention. State electricity company PT PLN (Persero) said the outage was triggered by a fault in one of its transformers, although the precise cause is still being investigated.

Suroso Isnandar, PLN’s Director of Project Management and Renewable Energy, said an equipment fault was the initial cause of the blackout. PLN is continuing to investigate the issue in detail.

“We are examining it carefully and are not ruling out various possible causes, so we can determine what needs to be improved,” Suroso told reporters.

He said the fault in one transformer disrupted electricity services to the public. The incident has also prompted PLN to evaluate the reliability of its equipment and the maintenance of power plants and the electricity network.

Suroso confirmed that coal supplies for power generation were secure. Based on PLN’s initial account, the Batam blackout was therefore not caused by a coal supply problem, but by an equipment fault that is still being investigated.

Suroso said strong economic growth had also driven an increase in electricity needs. The rise in demand is a positive sign for the economy, he said, but must be matched by greater reliability across the electricity system.

He said PLN recognised that several areas still needed improvement, including equipment maintenance in Batam.

The fault involving one transformer is among the issues being reviewed. A transformer is a key component of the electricity system, changing voltage levels so that power can be transmitted in line with the system’s requirements.

When such equipment malfunctions, electricity distribution can be disrupted, affecting customers served by the relevant system. PLN has not yet provided details of the damage or technical fault affecting the transformer in Batam.

Further investigation is therefore needed to establish the cause and identify the appropriate corrective measures.

Suroso also called for support as PLN reviews its equipment maintenance systems. The evaluation is considered important to maintaining a reliable electricity supply as energy needs rise, including in Batam.