Madura's power supply restored
Madura's power supply restored
JAKARTA (JP): Madura Island's three million residents can
again enjoy the comforts of electricity. Minister of Mines and
Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto officiated on Friday the
reconnection of the power supply from Java to Madura after a two-
month power blackout which began on Feb. 19.
The minister ordered state-owned electricity firm PLN to
ensure that such an accident never reoccurred.
"PLN is expected to find more sophisticated technology to
secure the supply," afternoon daily Suara Pembaruan quoted
Kuntoro as saying during the brief ceremony in Surabaya, East
Java.
PLN returned the power supply after completing repairs on one
of the three submarine cables damaged by the anchor of Singapore-
registered container ship Kota Indah off Gresik port on Feb. 19.
The blackout paralyzed industry on Madura and brought an
abrupt halt to nightlife on the island. Doctors said the blackout
would likely increase the island's birth rate.
PLN accused Kota Indah, owned by Singapore's Pacific
International Lines, of damaging two underwater power cables by
dragging them with its anchor.
The company is preparing a Rp 150 billion lawsuit against the
ship's owner. The vessel was seized and its captain detained
after the incident.
Repairs on the cable were completed by the London-based
British Insulation Cable Company (BICC), which manufactured the
cables and installed them in the Madura Strait 13 years ago. The
two-week-long project to repair the 80 meters of cable damaged by
the anchor cost Rp 55 billion (US$6.3 million).
PLN's lawsuit against the ship's owner is seeking Rp 55
billion in damages to pay BICC for its repair work, Rp 25 billion
to reimburse PLN for the reserve cables it used to replace the
broken cables and Rp 70 billion to cover the cost incurred by PLN
to lease diesel powered generators to provide some electricity to
Madura.
Some environmentalists and analysts, however, allege the
cables were not properly laid according to international
standards. Kuntoro has firmly denied the allegations.
PLN spent some Rp 215 billion (about $130 million based on the
1986 exchange rate) to buy and install the underwater cables in
1986. Madura is completely dependent on Java for its power
supply.
Soon after the accident, PLN installed several generators on
the island, but they only supplied about 45 megawatts (MW) of
power, far below the 70 MW the island demands.
PLN's chief in East Java, Hizban, said last month the company
would permanently install the Rp 120 billion generators on the
island in September in Gilitimur, Bangkalan regency, as a
precaution against similar incidents in the future.
"Some people have demanded compensation (from PLN), but it is
better to retract such demands. Residents have suffered
financial losses, but we also realize PLN has suffered from
losses," prominent ulema Ibnu Kholil said on Thursday as quoted
by Antara. (prb)