PLN Tanjungpinang Introduces Rotating Power Supply After Blackout

Tanjungpinang (ANTARA) - PLN Tanjungpinang in the Riau Islands has begun supplying electricity on a rotating basis following a total blackout in Batam’s power system. Batam is the main source of electricity for Bintan Island, including Tanjungpinang and Bintan.

Rully Agus Widanarto, head of PLN’s Tanjungpinang Customer Service Implementation Unit (UP3), said the utility was currently relying on two diesel power plants (PLTD): Suka Berenang and the plant in Air Raja sub-district. Together, they have a maximum capacity of 32 megawatts.

“Average daily electricity demand on Bintan Island reaches 80–100 megawatts, so we are trying to make the most of the available capacity and serve residents in turns, for six hours at a time,” Rully said in Tanjungpinang on Tuesday.

He said PLN Tanjungpinang was prioritising electricity for vital facilities, including hospitals, to ensure outages did not disrupt healthcare services.

The blackout in Batam, which then spread to Bintan Island, began on Monday morning (12 October). Several power plants in Batam dropped off the system, leaving the remaining plants unable to meet the high demand, Rully said.

Several plants in Batam had gradually recovered by Monday night, but were not yet able to supply Bintan because the system frequency was technically unstable.

“As of last night, electricity in Batam had not fully recovered either. Supply was still switching on and off into the morning,” he said.

Rully apologised to residents still affected by the blackout from Monday morning through Tuesday, particularly in Kijang and Tanjung Uban in Bintan Regency.

He said the diesel plants in Tanjungpinang could not send electricity to Bintan because the distance was considerable, causing low or unstable voltage.

“If we force the supply through, residents still would not be able to use electricity properly. It could even damage electrical equipment,” he said.

PLN Tanjungpinang was continuing to restore electricity supply from Batam to Bintan, with deliveries targeted to resume on Tuesday afternoon. The utility was waiting for the Tanjung Kasam coal-fired power plant (PLTU) in Batam to recover and return to operation so it could supply Bintan.

“Hopefully, electricity supply on Bintan Island will be fully restored tonight,” Rully said.