Deputy Speaker of the House Commission III Calls for Thorough Investigation into Sumatra Blackout
Ahmad Sahroni, the Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), has thrown his full support behind the National Police’s (Polri) efforts to thoroughly investigate the recent blackout incident that caused widespread power outages across Sumatra. Sahroni emphasized the critical need for a comprehensive investigation, given the significant impact the blackout had on the public.
The Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri) has been actively involved on the ground in Jambi, probing the cause of the Sumatra blackout. The investigation commenced at the SUTET 275kV transmission line connecting Muara Bungo and Sungai Rumbai in Jambi, focusing on Towers 175 and 176 in Tempino Village, Mestong District, Muaro Jambi Regency, on Sunday, May 24.
Initial findings from the investigation suggest that severe weather conditions led to the Sumatra electricity grid’s disconnection from the main inter-network.
“I urge the National Police, PLN (the state electricity company), and all relevant parties to conduct a complete investigation into the root cause of this blackout in Sumatra,” Sahroni stated to reporters on Monday, May 25.
He highlighted that the two-day blackout in Sumatra caused substantial losses to the community. Sahroni stressed the importance of determining whether any criminal elements were involved in the incident.
“A clear explanation must be provided, as this event has negatively affected millions of people. Numerous activities, jobs, and businesses were disrupted, undoubtedly leading to billions of Rupiah in losses,” he stated.
“Furthermore, any indication of criminal intent must be thoroughly investigated, as this was a critical failure. Someone must be held accountable,” Sahroni added.
The Treasurer General of the NasDem Party believes that a firm and transparent explanation is crucial to quell the various speculations circulating among the public regarding the cause of the power outage.
“Currently, social media is rife with public speculation about this blackout, with many unfounded rumors. These must be clarified with facts and real findings from the field, to prevent unrest without clarity,” Sahroni concluded.
Bad Weather Suspected as Primary Cause
The Bareskrim Polri has been investigating the cause of the electricity outage that affected several regions in Sumatra on Friday, May 22. The primary focus of their investigation has been at the disruption point of the 175-176 High Voltage Overhead Line (SUTET) in Tempino Village, Muaro Jambi Regency.
Irjen Pol. Nunung Syaifuddin, the Deputy Chief of Bareskrim Polri, reported that investigators on the scene discovered a broken transmission cable. This was reportedly triggered by severe weather, which caused instability in the electricity frequency and voltage, leading to a chain reaction of power plant trips.
“The disturbance resulted in electricity frequency and voltage instability, which subsequently triggered a cascading shutdown of power plants, leading to a widespread blackout in several Sumatra regions, including Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, and parts of South Sumatra,” Nunung explained during a press conference on Monday, May 25.
“The joint Bareskrim Polri team was present at the suspected origin of the disturbance, specifically around the transmission towers in Tempino Village, Mestong District, Muaro Jambi Regency. A broken transmission cable was found at this location,” he continued.
Summary
Ahmad Sahroni, Deputy Chairman of House Commission III, has called for a comprehensive investigation into the widespread power outage that recently affected several provinces across Sumatra. The two-day blackout caused significant economic losses and disrupted the daily activities of millions of people in regions like Aceh and North Sumatra. Sahroni emphasized the importance of transparency to address public speculation and identify any potential criminal elements related to the critical infrastructure failure.
Preliminary investigations by the National Police indicate that severe weather caused a transmission cable to break between specific towers in Jambi. This incident resulted in frequency and voltage instability, which triggered a cascading shutdown of various power plants across the grid. Authorities are continuing to analyze the site to provide a factual explanation for the massive disruption.