PLN Blames Technical Issues at Two Major Plants for Java Blackouts

Indonesia's state electricity company, PLN, has attributed the rolling blackouts that have affected Java since early June to technical problems at two major power plants owned by private producers. PLN's CEO, Darmawan Prasodjo, explained that these plants experienced disruptions, forcing them offline and impacting the Java electricity system.

PLN has deployed teams to work alongside the plant operators to speed up repairs and bring the facilities back online. Prasodjo apologized to the public for the inconvenience caused by the power outages, assuring that the company is working tirelessly to resolve the issues. However, further details on the specific nature of the technical problems and the identity of the IPPs were not immediately available, as a request for comment to PLN's Executive Vice President of Corporate Communication remained unanswered.

The blackouts, which have impacted various regions across Java, including Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bekasi, and Tangerang Selatan, have been ongoing since June 8. Earlier, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, had suggested that a shortage of medium-grade coal supply was a primary cause, impacting the optimal operation of several power plants. He pointed to a significant price disparity between coal for domestic use and the international market as a contributing factor.