Power shortage in the regions

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: At least 28 regions throughout the country have been facing power shortages up to June 2002, announced the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro said in a seminar here on Thursday that Aceh, North Sumatra, South Kalimantan and East Kalimantan were among the most severely hit provinces.

Nonetheless, he said, the government had earmarked US$804 million from foreign aid to remedy the shortage.

The seminar was attended by leaders of Sulawesi's provincial administration. -- JP