Bobby Aims for Full Power Restoration Across North Sumatra Today

North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution stated all affected areas in the province will have power restored today, Monday, 25 May 2026, after a mass blackout struck Sumatra on Friday, 22 May. ‘PLN has confirmed full 100% restoration today,’ Bobby said at the DPR building in Jakarta. ‘I will return to Medan to coordinate with PLN Sumbagut.’ Bobby said provincial authorities distributed generators to key locations during recovery and are mapping the blackout’s impact on electricity-dependent businesses, such as fisheries cold storage. ‘We will assess the extent of the impact to determine whether the provincial government can handle it or if we need to coordinate with higher authorities,’ said the son-in-law of former President Joko Widodo. The provincial government has prioritised restoring power to hospitals and economic hubs to minimise disruption to essential services. Previously, PT PLN reported a power system disturbance in North Sumatra causing blackouts across parts of Sumatra on 22 May. Severe weather damaged substations and transmission systems, particularly in South, Central, and North Sumatra. Affected provinces included Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau, and Jambi. PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo stated: ‘Transmission line disruptions caused widespread system issues across Sumatra, leading to frequency drops due to generator load and triggering cascading failures in multiple regions,’ according to Antara on 23 May. Darmawan added that PLN restored the transmission network within two hours of the initial disturbance. The Indonesian National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) is investigating the cause, conducting a crime scene investigation at a high-voltage transmission line (SUTET) 175-176 break point in Muaro Jambi Regency. Investigators found a broken transmission cable near a transmission tower in Tempino Village. Police are probing possible causes including mechanical failure from wind and friction, heat from loose connections, and extreme weather-induced strain. ‘Transmission towers remain structurally sound with no significant damage,’ said Bareskrim Deputy Chief Inspector General Nunung Syaifuddin on 25 May in South Jakarta.