Fiasco in Lampung, S. Sumatra intensifies
Oyos Saroso HN, The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung
Powercuts in the provinces of Lampung and South Sumatra have increased in frequency from once every three days to once every two days due to the breakdown of the coal-fired power plant in Bukit Asam in South Sumatra.
And there is no optimism that the situation will improve since the repair work at a second damaged plant, the Way Besai hydro- powered electricity plant, is yet to be completed despite the breakdown occurring last January.
Hundreds of people staged a demonstration at the local PLN office to protest on Thursday, demanding that the state-owned company complete the repair work immediately.
"PLN should be ashamed with its poor service while they were never hesitant to increase electricity prices. The government should also take responsibility for the blackouts because it holds the monopoly in the electricity supply and service market to the public," said Jauhari Zailani, an activist at the Lampung Media Center (LMC).
He said the frequent blackout had caused a huge amount of material losses to the local people and widespread inconvenience and disturbances to their daily activities.
Power to the provinces has been disrupted since Jan. 26, 2002 due to the breakdown of the Way Besai plant.
Local activities have been disturbed while crime is increasing when night falls as large areas have no lighting, making it easy for burglars and robbers to operate.
In East Lampung, robbery and burglary has occurred on a daily basis since the power blackouts. Sometimes victims have been murdered.
"I was robbed at a bus terminal in the city during the blackout. I am sure that if the streets were properly lit, the robbers wouldn't be so daring," said Mulyati, a Kedaton resident in Bandarlampung.
According to one bus driver, Ruslan, the passengers were often afraid to fight back as the robbers operated in groups of four or six people.
Commenting on the increasing crime rate, Lampung chief police, Brig. Gen. Sugiri said that the police would intensify operations, especially in East Lampung where crimes were most noted.
Separately, the Tanjungkarang electricity plant said they were ready to replace electronic goods caused by the irregular flow of electricity.
"We are ready to meet the public's claims," said Arif Muryoto, spokesman of PLN Tanjungkarang.
Most of the electricity plants in Lampung are in poor condition, while connections are often disturbed as the cables must cross wide areas of forest.
Meanwhile, in the South Sumatra provincial capital of Palembang, the police have stepped up security around PLN's offices in anticipation of possible attacks by those who are frustrated by the blackouts.
Syafri Jamil, chief of the PLN office in Palembang, said the action was taken in line with the increasing violence by local protesters.
"Before imposing the blackouts, we have made an apology to our consumers and are disseminating information on it through local mass media and we are still working hard to repair the two troubled power plants as soon as possible," he said.