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