Residents irate over power blackout

Residents irate over power blackout

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Residents of Rumbia and Rarowatu
districts in Buton regency, Southeast Sulawesi, have threatened
to demonstrate against state-owned electricity company PT PLN in
Kendari due to power outages in their area over the last three
weeks.

Sulaiman, a resident at Rumbia district, said on Saturday that
the people had filed a complaint with PLN but there had been no
response.

"We really don't understand. Why does our area always
experience power outages while they say the power plant engine is
still new," he said.

People in both districts have had to make do with kerosene
lamps.

PLN Kendari office head of distribution Isdenta S. said that
the company had to switch off the power supply to both district
due to a broken generator. The generator is currently being fixed
in Kendari, while some spare parts must be ordered from Surabaya.

"Hopefully, the generator will be ready to operate next week,"
he said. -- Antara