Sumatra Blackout Highlights Urgency to Accelerate Power Transmission Development

Public policy analyst Agus Pambagio said the Sumatra blackout serves as a reminder of the need to strengthen transmission networks to ensure reliable electricity supply in the region. He noted that Sumatra’s interprovincial interconnected grid requires a robust transmission system to prevent disruptions from spreading across areas.

“Power generation often receives primary attention, yet transmission plays a vital role as the main conduit for electricity within the interconnected system,” Agus stated in Jakarta on Friday, 29 May 2026.

He added that transmission network development in Sumatra, including the construction of 500 kilovolt (kV) Extra High Voltage Overhead Transmission Lines (SUTET), has been included in the latest Power Supply Business Plan (RUPTL) to bolster regional power interconnections. However, large-scale transmission projects frequently face delays due to land acquisition processes and cross-regional permitting.

According to Agus, transmission development involves not only technical aspects but also land acquisition, land use planning adjustments, cross-regional permits, and community engagement along transmission routes—all requiring time and coordination.

He further highlighted that as Sumatra’s interconnected system expands, reinforcing main transmission routes and ensuring reliable cross-regional electricity supply becomes increasingly critical. Delays in transmission construction, he warned, could heighten the risk of system failures as electricity demand grows across the region.