Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan (AntaranewsKalsel) - General Manager of PT PLN Region of South and Central Kalimantan Mursalin said blackout in the two provinces recentry because of power shortages.
"Asam-Asam steam-fueled power plant (PLTU) performance less than the maximum, thus making PLN rolling blackouts with a proportional system," he said in Banjarbaru Sunday.
Acoording to him, PLTU Asam-Asam units 1 and 2 should have enter a period of maintenance (overhaul) in September or October 2014.Infact, both remain on operation until the month of August 2015 in order to provide supply of electricity to customers in South and Central Kalimantan.
"The effects of not overhauling power plants unit 1 and 2 resulted in both performance not optimal, so frequent loss of power that caused the blackout," he explained.
On the other hand, he said, the surplus power as a backup source of PLN here is very small, especially during peak hours from 18:00 until 22:00.
"The Barito power capasity of electricity systems that serve South and Central Kalimantan is 515 mega watt, while the evening peak load reached 505 mega watt so we only have minimal reserves," he said.
The lack of electricity power reserves are far from the ideal of 100 MW cause rolling blackouts, especially if the Asam-Asam power plant experienced operational disruptions.
Other measures undertaken to prevent blackouts, PLN asked large customers such as large corporations, malls and hotels reducing power consumption./edited in English by Mahdani
