Safe Supply, PLN Makes Sure Primary Energy Crisiss Don't OCCUR In Indonesia

JAKARTA - President Director of PT PLN (Persero) Darmawan Prasodjo ensures that the national electricity condition is in a safe condition. Darmawan ensured that PLN had taken strategic steps, one of which was by strengthening the primary energy supply for power plants to ensure the reliability of electricity supply to customers.

"Indonesia's national electricity condition is in very safe condition. Each pillar of our electricity system is very strong. In order to ensure the electricity supply is maintained, we ensure that the primary energy adequacy of all plants in Indonesia is more than sufficient," Darmawan said in a Hearing Meeting with Commission VII DPR RI quoted on Thursday 9 February.

The toughness of the primary energy supply was obtained from the results of the struggle of PLN and the Government in enforcing primary energy management after the coal crisis incident at the end of 2021.PLN has rearranged the contract into a long and sturdy term. In addition, surveillance measures are carried out not only through physical conditions in the field but also through the integration of digital monitoring systems.

"We integrate the PLN digital system with the digital system of the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal, so that it can be corrected in action quickly, precisely, and measurably," added Darmawan.

PLN also changed the paradigm of the coal supply control system from what initially focused on the unloading point of the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) to focusing on loading or loading points. The mechanism of the early warning system was also built, so the risk of delays in coal supply delivery can be minimized.

"With a system like this, if there is a potential for supply failure due to the availability of coal and its transportation fleet, it will be detectable early. Even any movement of primary energy supply can be monitored digitally," said Darmawan.

With this improvement, now coal plants as the first line of defense have stocks that are even above a safe point, which is already above 20 HOP. In addition, fuel reserves and reserves as second line and third line of defense are also ensured to be safe, and always ready whenever needed.

"If we compare it with Pakistan. There, the primary energy stock of the plant, namely gas, is very limited. Plus Pakistan is experiencing economic pressure, while the primary energy is dominated by imports without supply readiness, there is no long-term contract, so the stock is increasingly limited. When there is electricity demand fluctuation, the electricity supply will be down and cannot recover because the primary energy stock is not sufficient," explained Darmawan.