Industries feel the pinch from massive blackouts in Java, Bali
Industries feel the pinch from massive blackouts in Java, Bali
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The massive blackouts that swept parts of Java and Bali have
caused industries to suffer billions of rupiah in financial
losses due to disruptions in their operations.
The Indonesian Textile Association estimated that more than
100 spinning, weaving and garment industries in Greater Jakarta
suffered losses of about Rp 55 billion (US$5.53 million).
"Many of our members complained that their machines stopped
operating for six hours plus, (and it took) an additional two
hours to warm up the machines soon after the power went on
again," association executive secretary EG Ismy said on Thursday.
That figure, he added, did not include the extra losses from
the delays of shipments to customers.
At 10:23 a.m. on Thursday, a glitch in 500 kilovolt (kv)
transmission line between Cilegon and Saguling in West Java cut
state utility company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN)'s power
supply and caused several power plant units to disengage from the
network.
Elsewhere, the Indonesian Automotive Parts and Components
Industries Association executive Yos Rizal Anwar said many
businesses in the automaker support industry shut down for up to
eight hours due to the blackouts. He estimated losses of more
than Rp 400 million for each company.
"If this (blackout) continues, it will make our products less
competitive than China or India's manufactured goods. It also
happened not long after PLN announced its plan to increase the
electricity price for industry," he said.
Both Ismy and Yos called on PLN to provide an international-
standard service if it wanted the industry to pay "international
rates" for power.
Many large offices and industries did, however, have backup
generator systems in place. "Alhamdullilah (Thank God), we didn't
have any problems at the JSX," bourse administration director
Wawan Setiamihardja said.
Wawan said all computers at the capital market were connected
through an uninterrupted power system that enabled them to
continue working for the hour that power was disrupted.
In Surabaya and Semarang, star-rated hotels did not experience
blackouts, also switching to generator power supplies.
Hyatt Hotel Surabaya spokesman Prima Soemarso said it would be
uneconomic for hotels to rely on generators if PLN's power supply
was disrupted for a long period.
"If we keep using the generators, our operational costs will
increase drastically," he said. (006)