Industries targeted for scheduled blackouts

Adisti Sukma Sawitri ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Fri, 02/22/2008 5:00 PM  |  Headlines

Industrial areas in Greater Jakarta are targeted for scheduled blackouts as state power firm PT PLN struggles with fuel shortages to feed the Java-Bali power grid.

The scheduled blackouts began Monday and PLN says it does not know how long the disruptions will continue.

The blackouts take place in two phases, from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

In each phase, PLN's division for Greater Jakarta will switch off an average of 300 megawatts of a total 4,800 MW daytime power consumption in the region.

The division's public relations manager, Azwar Lubis, said the power savings were necessary because fuel shortages and rising demand in the city.

According to PLN in Greater Jakarta, power consumption in the area rose from 4,700 megawatts in the last quarter of last year to 4,800 in the first months of 2008.

"Rising global oil prices have made industries and companies more reluctant to use fuel-based power generation, so they are starting to rely more heavily on PLN," Azwar said Thursday.

He said the unit cost of generator-based power was Rp 2,000 per kilowatt hour, compared to just Rp 630 for PLN's power.

Azwar called on companies and households to cut down their air-conditioner usage by turning off the machines or setting the thermometer at 25 degrees Celsius.

The scheduled blackouts this Friday affected households as well as industrial areas, including Pulo Gadung and Cawang in East Jakarta, and Balaraja, Tigaraksa and Pasar Kemis in Tangerang.

Three steel companies in Tanjung Priok -- PT Pangeran Karang, PT Tosan Prima and PT Wahana Garuda -- will experience a blackout on Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to noon.

A complete schedule of the blackouts can be found at www.plnjaya.co.id. Customers can also contact PLN's call center at 123 for more information.

Jakarta tap water operators PT Pam Lyonnaise Jaya (Palyja) and PT Thames Pam Jaya (TPJ) have reported supply disruptions whenever blackouts occur along their networks.

TPJ public relation manager Devy Yheanne said supplies in at least eight subdistricts in East Jakarta were disturbed Thursday morning.

"In general, the impact of the blackouts has not been significant, but of course it is not convenient for our customers if this happens over the long term," she said.

Palyja public relations manager Meyritha Maryanie said its network in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, had been affected by a scheduled blackout, but it was able to minimize the disruption by using its generator.

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