Government Gives Relaxation, Buys Fuel In Aceh, North Sumatra-West Sumatra No Need To Use Barcode

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia revealed that the government provides relaxation for people affected by flash floods in Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, so that they no longer need to use barcodes to buy fuel at gas stations.

Bahlil said this was to overcome the queue for the purchase of fuel oil (BBM).

Meanwhile, the supply of fuel for flood-affected areas is relatively safe, but it is still constrained by distribution because there are still many routes cut off

"And for fuel matters, the fuel is there, but it cannot be distributed because there are many roads that we cannot pass. We have passed by the sea, also the waves. Well, slowly we start now using jerry cans. So we are carrying jerry cans and drums from Jakarta, we raise planes, we send them here so that we can hold them. While we cooperate with the technical ministry at Public Works to penetrate the road," Bahlil said in a statement to the media, Tuesday, December 2.

Bahlil also asked PT PLN (Persero) to accelerate the improvement of access to electricity in disaster areas.

To restore electricity supply from plants in Arun and Naganraya, PT PLN (Persero) will start installing emergency power towers that can be built in just two days, then continued the connection of damaged power lines.

He targets the restoration of electricity in Banda Aceh and West Aceh to be completed by Friday, December 5 or Saturday, December 6.

"Based on PLN data, as many as 12 transmission towers on several SUTT 150 kV lines were damaged, including the Bireuen-Arun, Brandan-Langsa, and Peusangan-Bireuen routes," he continued.

This damage caused disruption in electricity supply in a number of areas, including Banda Aceh, Aceh Besar, Pidie, Pidie Jaya, Bireuen, North Aceh, Lhokseumawe, Bener Meriah, Central Aceh, East Aceh, Langsa, Aceh Tamiang, to South Aceh and Aceh Singkil.

The progress of electricity recovery to date shows significant developments.

Of the total 263 auctioneers that went out, 153 auctioneers (58.2 percent) have returned to normal.

Meanwhile, 6,844 of the 9,669 distribution substations (70.8 percent) have restarted.

The recovered electricity load reached 173.05 MW (69.8 percent), with the number of customers enjoying electricity again as many as 727,735 customers (69.7 percent).