PLN CEO Reveals Latest Updates on Java's Electricity Conditions

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - PT PLN (Persero) has provided the latest update on the electricity system condition in Java, particularly following recent rolling blackouts in several areas. President Director of PT PLN Darmawan Prasodjo stated that PLN management is continuously monitoring the electricity system intensively to ensure the recovery process runs optimally. “Tonight (Sunday, 21/6/2026), the PLN Board of Directors is at the load control centre unit in Cinere, West Java, to monitor and ensure that efforts to repair the electricity system in Java proceed smoothly. We want to convey that the electricity system in Java is gradually improving,” he said during a press conference on Sunday evening (22/6/2026). According to him, the supply of primary energy that meets the specifications required by the power plants has resumed smoothly. Additionally, efforts to strengthen supply from the generation side have shown positive results. Darmawan revealed that last week, two power plants owned by PLN partners, or Independent Power Producers (IPP), experienced technical issues and had to be taken offline from the Java electricity system. In response, PLN and its partners immediately deployed technical teams to accelerate repairs. “Tonight we bring good news: one of the power plants has been successfully restored and was synchronised with the Java electricity system at 6:00 PM local time, and has begun supplying electricity to enhance the reliability of the Java system. As a result, the rolling blackouts that occurred last week have been successfully minimised today,” Darmawan said. Darmawan admitted to continuously monitoring the Java electricity system repair efforts 24 hours a day, seven days a week. His team is also working to improve the governance of the primary energy supply chain and strengthen power generation. “We are striving for the best so that the ongoing improvements can be maintained and continuously enhanced,” he stated. He also expressed appreciation to the government, particularly the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) and Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, for the support and coordination provided during the system strengthening process. “We also want to offer our sincerest apologies for the inconvenience caused to the public due to the rolling blackouts last week. We also ask for the public’s prayers so that the efforts to repair and strengthen the electricity system in Java can proceed smoothly,” he added. Previously, Bahlil had paid full attention to the rolling blackouts carried out by PT PLN in several areas. He asked PLN to immediately take measured and comprehensive mitigation steps so that similar incidents do not recur. “I heard information that rolling blackouts occurred in several areas. I ask PLN to immediately take measured, comprehensive steps to provide comfort to customers by ensuring no more blackouts. In other words, immediately resolve this technical problem, because all technical matters are under PLN’s authority and control,” Bahlil said in his press release. Bahlil emphasised that PLN needs to conduct a thorough evaluation of its operational systems and ensure all processes run optimally. According to him, appropriate mitigation measures are key to preventing similar disruptions from being felt by the public again. “I also spoke directly with the President Director earlier. I told him to immediately take measured steps so that undesirable things do not happen, including the blackouts that the people are complaining about. The operator of the electricity is not the Directorate General of Electricity, not us. We handle regulation, while the executing entity is PLN,” he explained. Bahlil also stated that he had communicated directly with the President Director of PLN to push for faster and more measured steps to ensure the electricity system returns to normal. “Even while I was on the road, I spoke with the President Director. I told him to immediately implement measured mitigation steps so that undesirable things do not happen, including the blackouts complained about by the people. The government has been firm, now PLN just needs to realise it immediately,” he said. On the other hand, Bahlil dismissed the notion that the blackouts occurred due to a lack of fuel supply at several power plants. He asserted that, in general, PLN’s coal requirements have been anticipated through assignments to national coal companies. “PLN’s total coal requirement is 154 million tonnes. For that 154 million, the Directorate General of Minerals and Coal has assigned national coal companies to supply 180 to 190 million tonnes, of which 134 million tonnes have been contracted. So, where is the shortage? The technicality of getting it to the power plant is not the task of the Directorate General of Minerals and Coal. That is the technical matter of PLN’s logistics management,” Bahlil clarified.