Blackout continues in N. Aceh

Blackout continues in N. Aceh

BANDA ACEH: Residents of Lhokseumawe in North Aceh regency complained about the continued blackout caused by troubles in the power transmission unit in Rauntau Bayeun, East Aceh, damaged by unidentified people recently.

Muhammad Karim, a resident of Lhokseumawe, said the blackout started on Feb. 12, 2002 and so far no repair had been carried out, causing disruption to local people's daily activities.

"Most people have used candles at night, while a few locals used their own power generators," he said, stating that the blackout had also plagued Pidie and several areas in East Aceh.

Karim said most locals were living in fear because of the continuing blackout in the town.

Chief of the local office of state electricity company PT PLN Sulaiman Daud said his office needed many weeks to repair the damaged power transmission equipment.

According to him, the power supply to PLN consumers would return to normal by the middle of March, 2002.

The province has experienced cuts in power supplies from North Sumatra province three times over the last four months. --Antara