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)