Restricted power for Pulau Seribu

Restricted power for Pulau Seribu

JAKARTA (JP): Residents of Pulau Seribu (Thousand Islands) can
forget for the time being their dream of a constant electricity
supply because it is considered unprofitable to install
transmission equipment in the marine resort area, a city official
said on Tuesday.

Head of the city's public works electricity agency I.G.K.G.
Suena said investment needed for the transmission project to
supply the islands in the Jakarta Bay was not feasible.

"The state electricity company (PLN) has rejected the proposal
for the installment of electrical equipment in the area because
of the high investment," he said.

"That's the reason why we took over the responsibility to
provide electricity to the islands."

Suena said that transmission for the area, to be developed
through an underground network, would entail heavy costs for PLN,
with the amount of subsequent income not justifying the expense.

"But we can only provide them with generators. They must pay
for the fuel themselves," he said.

He said generators were provided at nine of 106 islands in the
chain, including Pramuka, Tidung, Panggang, Kelapa, Lancang Besar
and Kelapa Dua, with an average maintenance cost of about Rp 1
billion per year.

Residents of the islands are restricted to using electricity
between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Each family has to pay between Rp 600
to Rp 800 for the diesel fuel.

"There are people, mostly poor fishermen, who sometimes cannot
afford the payment," Suena said.

He admitted that two generators at Tidung Island broke down
three weeks ago because demand outstripped capacity.

"Hopefully, both generators will resume operations within the
next two days," he said.

He reminded residents to conserve electricity by using the
generators at designated periods and not throughout the day. (ind)