Madura to get power back

JAKARTA: State-run electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) confirmed the power supply to the island of Madura, East Java, would return to normal by the end of this month, Antara reported.

The island has in the past two months been without electricity after the main underwater power line was damaged by the anchor of Singaporean cargo ship MV Kota Indah.

"God willing, one submarine cable circuit has been repaired and is expected to be able to supply power to the island by the end of April," Alfian Helmy, PLN's chief spokesman, said here on Wednesday.

Therefore, the power supply of 75 megawatts to serve some 281,000 subscribers would be returned to normal, said Helmy.

He also said the repair work on the cable was completed ahead of schedule because only some 170 meters of the 4,000-meter-long submarine power line from Java to Madura was damaged.

It was previously estimated the repair work would take around one year because it was believed new cable would have to be ordered from abroad.