Public Urges Comprehensive Audit of PLN

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The cause of the massive power blackout on Sunday must be investigated to prevent the recurrence of a similar incident. A comprehensive audit of state electricity company PLN is needed to ensure that all processes and systems are working properly.JAKARTA, KOMPAS — A thorough investigation of the massive power blackout across several regions on Sunday (4/8/2019) and a comprehensive audit of state electricity company PLN are needed.

The investigation should discover the real cause of the power outage in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi, as well as parts of West Java, Central Java and Banten. The investigation should also find out why it took at least six hours to restore power.

Public calls for a comprehensive audit and investigation increased in the wake of Sunday’s blackout, which disrupted daily activities and the economy. Several regions still did not have power on Monday (5/8), as the Java-Bali network was not fully restored.
University of Indonesia lecturer Iwa Garniwa said that several factors, including lightning strikes and kites, could cause disruption to power networks but were still avoidable, even though they were out of PLN’s control.
Therefore, an investigation and a system audit were necessary to discover the true cause of the blackout. “Even though the system is strong, simulating [power] disruption scenarios are also needed to determine what must be done when disruptions occur,” said Iwa.
An internal audit alone was not sufficient, and an independent audit that involved a third party was necessary.
Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) executive director Fabby Tumiwa said on Sunday evening that the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry should investigate the power outage. A separate review of the ministry’s role in regulating electricity must result in suggestions to improve the electricity system, including potential network vulnerabilities and projected load increase. The investigation must identify the cause of the systemic failure that led to blackouts in several regions. The aim was to prevent similar incidents from recurring (Kompas, 5/8/2019).
Fabby said on Monday that an internal audit at PLN was also necessary to check whether a lack of adherence to standard operational procedures caused errors in security.
KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO
Residents look for any salvageable items in what remains of their home on Monday (5/8/2019) at on Jl. Kramat Pulo Gundul in Tanah Tinggi, Johar Baru, Central Jakarta. The major fire that broke out razed at least 15 houses in the neighborhood.
Investa Saran Mandiri president director Hans Kwee said that the power outage that lasted several hours had caused widespread concerns among investors. This in turn caused the Indonesian Composite Index (IHSG) to depreciate at a time when it was already burdened by global factors like the US-China trade war.
The IHSG fell 2.594 points on Monday to 6,175.703.
During his visit to PLN headquarters on Monday morning, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo questioned the lack of contingency calculations and plans during massive blackouts like Sunday’s, particularly because similar incidents had occurred in the past.
“At large companies such as PLN, I believe proper risk management is needed. I know that a similar incident occurred in Java and Bali in 2002. That should have been a lesson for us all. [Such an] incident should have not reoccurred,” Jokowi stressed.
Imbalance
Iwa said that, in terms of structural developments, additional power plants should be built in western Java. Furthermore, additional transmission networks should be installed to support the existing northern and southern transmission networks. The disruption to the Ungaran-Pemalang extra-high voltage transmission line (SUTET), which contributed to the power outage in western Java, showed that the electricity load was centered in western Java while most of the electricity was supplied from eastern Java.
The deputy of energy, logistics, regional and tourism businesses at the State-Owned Enterprises Ministry, Edwin Hidayat Abdullah, said the ministry had asked PLN to install extra security for vital electrical facilities, including power plants and transmission networks.
KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO
Residents and onlookers gather on Jl. K. Teluk Gong outside a low-cost apartment that caught fire on Monday (5/8/2019) in Pejagalan subdistrict of Penjaringan, North Jakarta. A short circuit caused by burning paper and candles in a household shrine is believed to have started the fire, which killed four people.
“PLN must also launch a thorough investigation,” Edwin said in San Francisco on Monday.
He added that Java had four substations, two in the north and two in the south. “The investigation must find out whether operational standards were violated, the system lacked reserves, or other causes,” Edwin said.
PLN western Java regional business director Haryanto W.S. said on Monday evening in Jakarta that the company had turned on additional power generators to produce an additional 5,000 megawatts. Another 3,000 MW was supplied to customers in Banten and West Java on Monday evening.
I Made Suprateka, the PLN executive vice president of communication and CSR, said that the electrical disruption occurred in Ungaran, Central Java, where a 9-meter tree caused a short circuit and a minor fire. “This fatally damaged the network. There are no other causes, such as sabotage or deliberate [attacks],” said Suprateka.
KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO
A man secures a shuttered door beyond a police line marking the scene of a fire on Jl. K. Teluk Gong on Monday (5/8/2019) in Pejagalan subdistrict of Penjaringan, North Jakarta. A short circuit caused by burning paper and candles in a household shrine is believed to have started the fire, which killed four people.
Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (indef) researcher Bhima Yudhistira said no calculations had been made on the financial damage from the blackout, including direct impacts and multiplier effects.
Electronic Industries Association (Gabel) chair Rachmat Gobel said that businesses and production systems suffered massive damage. (NAD/FER/KEL/ERK/INA)

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