Hospitals, offices struggle with backup power during blackout
The Jakarta Post Jakarta
An unexpected blackout surprised residents across the capital, and indeed most of Java and Bali, on Tuesday, and made life more troublesome for several hours.
It was darker than usual in the wards of Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM) in Central Jakarta when the electricity suddenly went off in the morning.
Several wards only had a couple lights on, but received a little help from the sunlight coming through the windows.
"It is usually not that well-illuminated anyway. But today it has been practically dark in here," said Hamdan, a male nurse at the hospital's Ward A (IRNA-A).
The electricity went off at around 10:30 a.m. in Jakarta Thursday, triggering massive traffic jams -- as traffic lights were also incapacitated -- and crippling the operation of train company PT Kereta Api Indonesia throughout Greater Jakarta.
The unexpected blackout on Thursday left RSCM with just minimum of power, which delayed several planned surgeries and kept the hospital's power maintenance crew busy as the generators were not functioning properly.
"We are putting a priority on the power from our generator to the ICU, ICCU (Intensive Care Unit and Intensive Critical Care Unit), surgery wards and telephone switchboard," said RSCM's generator maintenance head Rusanto.
"However, I suggested that surgeries be delayed. But the ones ongoing were able to proceed."
Rusanto explained that his office had only been able to supply limited power since one of its two generators was not working. "The one that was working was running at a high temperature. I am afraid that it will overheat," he said.
Contacted at 4 p.m. the same day, the electricity had returned to normal at the hospital as state electricity company PLN managed to get some power back on in different areas.
At Sumber Waras hospital in West Jakarta, the blackout was not a major concern since their generator was not having any problems.
Part of the hospital's administration offices lost power at 10:30 a.m. when the building management shut off some lights and its air conditioning to prioritize the needs of patients.
"We have provided enough electricity in our hospital and our patients should have no problem," said Mila, a hospital employee.
Meanwhile, several property management companies that own business office blocks also had to cut power usage, causing a less comfortable temperature in some public places and longer lines in front of the elevators at lunch time.
"We turned off one elevator and an air conditioner. The temperature in the lobby was also set higher to use the power from our generators efficiently," said Sunaryo, an electrician from the Sona Topas tower on Jl. Sudirman in South Jakarta.
Similar conditions were also found at the Jakarta Stock Exchange building. Since an elevator from each zone was turned off, traders and staff had to wait in longer lines to get up and down in the building.
Smaller office buildings without backup generators were forced to stop work. Many office workers were seen killing time outside their offices, while lots of doors and windows were open. (003/004)