Successfully Recovering 97 Percent Of Electricity In NTT, Managing Director Of PLN: There Are Still 3 Percent Of Customers Who Are Completely Dark

Recover 97 Percent of Electricity in NTT. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara or PLN has succeeded in restoring electricity in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) within 13 days. Now, of the total 4,002 distribution substations affected by the storm, around 96.4 percent or 3,857 distribution substations are already on and operating normally.

President Director of PT PLN Zulkifli Zaini said that PLN noted that 616,814 customers in NTT had returned to enjoy the electricity, or around 97 percent of the total 635,979 PLN customers who experienced blackouts.

"But our work and struggle will not stop. There are still 3.6 percent of substations at the most difficult points and very heavy terrain that must also be restored. There are still about 3 percent of customers who are pitch black, we will immediately restore their electricity," he said. in a written statement received by VOI, Wednesday, April 21.

To speed up the recovery process, said Zulkifli, PLN deployed 1,316 personnel, bringing in aid workers from NTB, Maluku, Sulawesi, Papua, Bali, East Java, Central Java, DKI Jakarta and West Java.

"227 volunteers helping officers in the field, plus the assistance of 30 members of the TNI troops and members of the Indonesian Police, accelerated our work. Meanwhile, the residents who helped us in various locations, we practically cannot count and record. But all of them work hand in hand for the return of electricity to homes. residents, "he said.

Zulkifli said tower 19 which collapsed had been replaced by the emergency tower. Right on April 18, 2021 at 17.53 WITA, it was connected, so that nearly 170 thousand customers in four districts on Timor Island could enjoy electricity again.

"When one by one the electricity came on, we were all really relieved. We were touched by the appreciation of the residents who felt the return of light in their homes. We who monitored it every day, morning, noon and night, were so happy when an area was lit. it is extraordinary that PLN employees in the field are so meaningful, "he said.

Learning from the catastrophic storms and extreme rain, said Zulkifli, PLN will carry out mitigation to place vulnerable towers on more stable ground and strengthen the foundation of the site. In addition, PLN will strengthen Timor's electricity system by building 2 existing 70 kV lines and a second line with a 150 kV voltage.

Of course, continued Zulkifli, routine inspection and maintenance of the 20 kV distribution network will also be carried out, because that is the network that will connect electricity to customers' homes.

"On behalf of PLN, we would like to express our gratitude for the support of all parties who support us in accelerating electricity recovery throughout NTT. Volunteer Teams from various regions, stakeholders, Regional Government, TNI and Polri Corps, Forkopimda ranks, media friends, and society, "he said

Furthermore, Zulkifli hopes that this electricity will make the economy in the NTT region excited again.

On the same occasion, the Regional Secretary of the NTT Provincial Government, Benediktus Polo Maing on behalf of the local government and NTT residents expressed his gratitude for the hard work and fast work of PLN so that electricity can be recovered immediately.

Benediktus said, his party continues to monitor developments in electricity repair from day to day. He admitted that he saluted because repairs could be faster than expected.

"Thank you to the President Director and his staff. We are ready to support PLN's hard work. This incident proves that the spirit of mutual cooperation will not be destroyed and remains a strong character of the Indonesian nation," he said.