Govt Ensures Reliable Electricity Supplies During Elections
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Ignasius Jonan monitors the electricity conditions at the PLN Load Control Center (P2B), Gandul, Depok, West Java, Friday (12/4). (Photo: Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources)
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ignasius Jonan on Friday (12/4) at the PLN Load Control Center (P2B) in Gandul, Depok, West Java monitored electricity supply and the readiness of state-owned electricity company PLN ahead of the 2019 Presidential and Legislative General Elections.
The Minister said that electricity supply in general has been safe, so electrical disruptions during the elections can be avoided. Jonan added that he has also instructed related officials to monitor the details of the preparation for securing electricity supplies up to PLN’s district units.
In addition, Jonan also stressed that PLN should coordinate with the General Election Commission (KPU) to provide the needs of the Central and Regional KPU on the day of the elections until days after, especially at polling stations (TPS) including those located in remote areas.
“I have asked the PLN to have discussions with KPU again, before the election, to know what needs to be provided. If possible, I ask PLN to discuss this with the Regional KPU also. We also have to pay attention to remote areas. Make sure the Regional KPU offices’ logistics system is not down during the vote counting,” the Minister said.
For the record, PLN has predicted that electricity use on the elections day would decline because industries that consume very large electricity and offices stop operating.
In the meantime, Central Java Regional Business Director of PLN Amir Rosidin revealed that the peak demand in the Java-Bali Electricity System fell by an average of around 5,000 MW during the elections day.
“On April 17, the afternoon peak demand is expected to be an average of 15,000 MW and the average (regular day) is around 20,000 MW, so it drops by around 5,000 MW. The peak night demand is expected to be 22,000 MW and the average (weekdays) is 26,000-27,000 MW, so it drops by around 5,000 MW. We have enough electricity supply,” Amir explained.
In the Java-Bali Electricity system, in particular, electricity demand is expected to decrease to 15,571 MW for peak daytime demand and at 22,895 MW for peak nighttime demand. There will also be an electricity demand decrease of around 12% – 29%.
The estimation of the electricity supply during the period of the elections (D-7 to D+7) in the Java-Bali Electricity System is in a condition of “adequate supply”.
As reported by PLN, 14 electrical systems until Wednesday (10/4) were observed to be in normal conditions, namely the System of South and Central Sumatra (SBST); Bangka; Equator; Kalimantan Interconnection; North Sulawesi and Gorontalo (Sulutgo); Southern of Sulawesi (Sulbagsel); Kendari; Ternate-Tidore; Isolated Maluku; Sumbawa; Bima; Kupang; Sorong + Isolated Papua; and Jayapura.
In those electricity systems, the available operating reserves are greater than the capacity of the largest generating unit available. Therefore, if there is a disruption in the largest generating unit, the system is still able to operate safely and smoothly.
In the meantime, eight other electrical systems are in a “standby” condition, namely the system of Northern of Sumatra (Sumbagut); Nias; Batam – Bintan; Belitung; Java – Bali; Lombok; Isolated NTT; and Ambon.
To keep the electricity supply reliable and safe, PLN has also set a standby period for the elections on March 17 to April 24, 2019 during which the PLN increased preparedness to maintain reliability and quality of electricity supply for all polling stations.
In addition, PLN has also prepared the adequacy of power supplies and system reserves, as well as preparing reliable generators and transmissions by managing schedule for maintaining the system outside of the election alert period. (Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Communication Team/EN)
Translated by : Fairuzzamani Inayatillah
Edited by : M. Ersan Pamungkas
