Bareskrim turun tangan selidiki kabel putus pemicu pemadaman massal di Sumatera

JAKARTA - The Special Criminal Investigation Directorate (Dittipidter) of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police has begun investigating the causes of the total power outage (blackout) that had hit a number of areas in Sumatra. The focus of the investigation is on the break in the extra high voltage air line (Sutet) 175-176 in Tempino Village, Mestong District, Muaro Jambi Regency, Jambi Province.

Dirtipidter Bareskrim Polri Brigjen Pol Irhamni mengatakan tim gabungan telah diterjunkan langsung ke lokasi untuk melakukan pemeriksaan awal terkait gangguan sistem transmisi tersebut.

"The police are investigating the causes of the blackout that occurred in several areas of Sumatra," Irhamni said in his statement, Sunday, May 24.

Irhamni explained that the investigation was carried out together with the team of the Forensic Laboratory Center (Puslabfor) of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police and PT PLN (Persero). From the results of the field check, officers found a conductor or transmission cable that was broken and immediately secured as evidence.

Furthermore, the material will be further examined by the PLN's Bareskrim Laboratory and the PLN research and development team to determine the main cause of the power grid disruption.

"So far, there has been no indication of human intention in the break of the conductor," said Irhamni.

Previously, PT PLN (Persero) said that the blackout in Sumatra was triggered by a disturbance due to extreme weather that affected the 275 kV transmission system of the Muara Bungo-Sungai Rumbai line in Jambi. The disturbance then caused a chain effect on the electricity system in a number of areas in Sumatra.

PLN ensures that the recovery process has been carried out and all electrical systems that have been affected by the blackout since Friday, May 22, are now back to normal.