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overnor Made Mangku Pastika has again opposed the planned construction of a geothermal electricity plant in Bali despite the island's short electricity supply.

Following the widespread electricity blackout last Sunday, the governor insisted on Monday that the development of such a plant would harm the island's environment.

Pastika told reporters that he was also against state-owned electricity company PT PLN's plan to install an extra high-voltage aerial transmission (SUTET) connecting Banyuwangi Power Plant in East Java with Bali, which is expected to add another 1,000 megawatts to the island's power supplies. But the SUTET transmission cables would pass over the West Bali National Park, which houses numerous endangered, indigenous animal and plant species.

"Bali needs more electricity, but it has to be generated from environmentally friendly electricity plants such as hydro-electricity plants or those which are based on wind power and natural gas," the governor explained, adding the provincial administration had already discussed this issue with legislative bodies.

"The installation of SUTET will certainly disturb the ecosystem of West Bali National Park. I have read the scientific analysis on the environmental impacts of this planned project upon the island's natural resources."

The governor admitted Bali, one of the world's top tourist destinations, needed more electricity power.

"But, we have to carefully consider any impact on our environment."

Bali had a massive blackout Sunday evening, leaving the island in total darkness for several hours. The outage, according to PT PLN's spokesperson, was caused by a disruption at East Java's power plant, which cut the island's supply by 200 MW.

Until today, Bali only had a total of 562 MW. During peak hours, electrical usage can reach 490 MW, which left only 72 MW as a reserve.

The blackout panicked residents, hoteliers and the tourist-related industry as well as port and airport managements.

Commenting on Sunday's blackout, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro urged Bali to be independent in terms of having its own power generator and to no longer fully depend on the Jawa-Bali power supply.

"Bali lacks electricity, but our offers of a geothermal electricity plant project in Bedugul resort area in Tabanan regency has never been realized due to controversy."

PT PLN had previously planned to construct a geothermal electricity plant within the Bedugul National Park in Tabanan regency, which was surrounded by lush forested areas and three pristine lakes (Buyan, Tamblingan and Bedugul). Balinese people view the area as being one of the island's sacred sites, a home to the goddess of water and agriculture.

The cool resort area also functions as one of the island's water catchment sites that maintain its abundant water supplies.

"The contract for project *the Bedugul geothermal plant* was signed in 1994. And due to the controversy, we have lowered the initial 110 MW project to only 10 MW, as a first phase of the project," Purnomo explained.

"So, I wonder, is it really because the residents oppose it, or is due to the lack of political will from the DPRD *Bali House of Representatives*?" asked Purnomo, adding that pakraman (traditional) villages located around the project site in Bedugul had given their approval.

Meanwhile, Tagor Sidjabat, the distribution manager of PT PLN's Bali office, said the blackout was caused by strong thunder and lightning of a more than 300,000 MW voltage striking underwater transmission cables connecting Java and Bali.