JAKARTA - PT PLN (Persero) reported that as many as 6,432 villages or about 98.9 percent of villages in Aceh have returned to enjoying electricity after the flash flood disaster at the end of last year.
"Since the large electricity system in Aceh has recovered, we immediately focused on normalizing the distribution network to the villages. Alhamdulillah, until now almost all villages in Aceh have been turned on again," said PLN President Director, Darmawan Prasodjo, quoted Monday, January 19.
However, he continued, PLN noted that there were still 68 villages or about 1.04 percent that had not been electrified. These villages are spread across eight regencies, including North Aceh Regency, West Aceh, Bireuen, Gayo Lues, Aceh Tamiang, East Aceh, Bener Meriah, and Central Aceh. PLN ensures that the recovery process in these areas continues until all villages are back on normal electricity.
"The villages that are still out are in areas with the most severe geographical challenges. Access roads in a number of locations are cut off, severely damaged, or even lost due to floods and landslides, so the recovery process takes time and extra effort. However, we do not wait. We continue to guerrilla and reconnect electricity to the deepest point in Aceh," said Darmawan.
In addition, while efforts to repair the electricity network continue, the 68 villages will continue to receive electricity supply through the support of the 1,000 Genset Program from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM). Although the distribution network has not recovered completely due to access constraints, the presence of emergency generators in the villages is a solution so that community activities do not stop.
General Manager of PLN Distribution Parent Unit (UID) Aceh, Eddi Saputra, emphasized that the biggest challenge at this time is the condition of the total broken road infrastructure to isolated locations. There are 171 landslide points that close access and 14 damaged bridges that make the mobilization of heavy equipment and electrical materials face serious obstacles.
"Our commitment is to restore the permanent network as quickly as possible. However, the safety of officers and the ability to access heavy equipment depends heavily on the condition of the road infrastructure. We continue to coordinate with the TNI, Polri, and local government regarding efforts to open access in the field. While walking, we ensure that residents in 68 villages are still supplied with electricity through backup generators that we have deployed with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources," said Eddi.
Eddi detailed that the team's concentration is currently in isolated areas. In Central Aceh, there are 36 villages that are trying to recover their permanent network, followed by Bener Meriah with 13 villages, as well as several villages in Gayo Lues and Aceh Tamiang.
"Our officers in the field are on standby at the nearest point to the landslide location. As soon as access is possible to pass through, our technical team will immediately enter to repair the poles and cables that collapsed due to the disaster," said Eddi.
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