Keep Health Facilities Operating, PLN Flying Gensets For Electricity At Datu Beru Takengon Hospital

JAKARTA - PT PLN (Persero) is trying to keep Takengon's health facilities, Central Aceh Regency operating after the disaster.

One way to do this is by flying a generator with a capacity of 250 kiloVolt Ampere (kVA) using the S-61A Sikorsky helicopter to the Datu Beru Regional General Hospital (RSUD).

The generator was flown from Banda Aceh together with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and the Indonesian National Army (TNI) on Saturday, December 6, 2025.

PLN President Director, Darmawan Prasodjo, conveyed that cross-sectoral collaboration between PLN, BNPB, and the TNI is the key to success in accelerating the recovery of electricity supply in affected areas.

"We thank you for the extraordinary support from BNPB and the TNI for strengthening our steps in the field. Thanks to this synergy, Alhamdulillah, the emergency generator can arrive at the affected locations quickly and safely," Darmawan said in an official statement, Sunday, December 7.

Furthermore, Darmawan said this step was also in line with the direction of the Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin so that the health care sector received priority energy, so that medical operations continued.

"For us, this is not just a technical task, but a humanitarian responsibility that we hold for the community," said Darmawan.

Meanwhile, General Manager of PLN Aceh Distribution Main Unit, Eddi Saputra, said that sending by air is the best solution so that the generator arrives on time at the priority location.

"Submission by air is the only option so that the generator arrives as soon as possible, because all land access to the Datu Beru Hospital has been cut off and cannot be passed due to the disaster. With the support of helicopters, the distribution process can be reached in about 45 minutes," said Eddi.

Eddi said that upon the arrival of the generator at the location, PLN officers moved quickly to install and test it so that it could operate as a temporary source of electricity. This step ensures that health services for the people of Central Aceh continue until the main network returns to normal.

"In the process of mobilizing via air, a high accuracy is needed. The material weighing 3.6 tons, which consists of a generator weighing 2.6 tons and a trailer weighing 1 tonne, failed to be flown in the first experiment. However, it was finally successfully flown in the second experiment after adjusting the load and lift point," said Eddi.

Meanwhile, the Regent of Central Aceh, Haili Yoga appreciated PLN's quick response in restoring post-disaster electricity, although field access was very limited.

He emphasized the importance of this effort to keep crucial public services such as hospitals operating.

"On behalf of the community and the Central Aceh Regency Regional Government, we would like to thank PLN, which today even though the electricity network is cut off, we still get the best service, namely for hospitals," said Haili.

Senada, Direktur Utama RSUD Datu Beru, Takengon, Gusnarwin turut mengapresiasi gerak cepat PLN dalam memastikan layanan medis tetap berjalan meski jaringan listrik utama terdampak bencana.

“Kami sangat terbantu dengan respons cepat PLN, listrik adalah nadi operasional rumah sakit. Dengan adanya genset ini, kami dapat memastikan ruang operasi, layanan gawat darurat, dan perawatan pasien tetap berlangsung tanpa kendala. Ini benar-benar menyelamatkan banyak nyawa,” ujar Gusnarwin.

Similarly, the President Director of the Datu Beru Hospital, Takengon, Gusnarwin also appreciated PLN's fast movement in ensuring medical services continue even though the main electricity network was affected by the disaster.

"We are greatly helped by PLN's quick response, electricity is the operating pulse of the hospital. With this generator, we can ensure that the operating room, emergency services, and patient care continue without problems. This really saves a lot of lives," said Gusnarwin.