Public Protests Erupt Over Electricity Crisis in South and Central Kalimantan

The wave of public protests over the electricity crisis sweeping across South Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan (Kalsel-Kalteng) continues to spread. On Tuesday (28/7), hundreds of people from the South Kalimantan Youth Alliance staged a demonstration at the PT PLN (Persero) UP3 office on Jalan Lambung Mangkurat in Banjarmasin.

The action was triggered by repeated power outages over the past week, which are seen as having paralysed activities ranging from households to the economic sector. Protesters carried various banners and posters of demands, including a large banner reading “this building has been seized by the people”, as an expression of frustration with the performance of PLN’s Main Distribution Unit (UID) for Kalsel-Kalteng.

The electricity crisis has not only sparked demonstrations but also forced residents to take emergency measures. A day earlier, several residents in Banjarbaru went to the PLN UID Kalsel-Kalteng office simply to charge their mobile phones, as their homes were experiencing a total blackout.

Micro, small and medium enterprises (UMKM) have been the hardest hit financially. Punia Dewi, an official of HIPMI Banjarmasin, said the crisis, which began in early July, has caused real losses to business operations.

Responding to the protesters’ demands, Hendy Saifuddin, Commerce and Marketing Manager of PT PLN UP3 Banjarmasin, explained that the disruption occurred in the regional Kalimantan electricity interconnection supply system, which integrates Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan and North Kalimantan.

“Our electricity supply is integrated. If one area suffers technical damage, it affects the entire interconnection system,” Hendy said in front of the protesters.

PLN’s technical teams are currently carrying out repairs on several power plants, with the main focus on the Asam-asam coal-fired power plant (PLTU) in Tanah Laut Regency. PLN projects that restoring the system will take several more days.

Although PLN has offered a technical explanation, public dissatisfaction is expected to continue. Reports indicate that a further wave of protests is planned for Wednesday (29/7) by broader community groups if electricity supply stability does not improve promptly.