TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta as one of the provinces in the west of Java island, besides West Java and Banten, is also vulnerable to power outage because of its poor power plant defense systems, despite the capital is home to many industries.

The statement was conveyed by a professor of Electrical Engineering from Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Pekik Argo Damono.

“Yes, [the city is susceptible to blackout]. When there is no electric supply from the east, there is no opt than a blackout,” said Pekik on Monday, August 5.

Pekik explained Jakarta and western areas of Java still depend on power plants in the eastern island. Thus, he opined, each region should have its own power plants to meet the electrical needs of its people.

“We cannot continuously depend on the east that has been ongoing for about 20 years,” he added.

According to Pekik, there are two hydro-generated power plants (PLTA) Saguling and Cirata which are functioned as power stabilizer and the source of electric power for western regions. Aside from lacking power, Pekik opined, the two PLTAs experienced troubles because of water scarcity in this dry season.

“The defense system in the west perhaps requires improvement,” Pekik stressed.

PLN explained that the power outage occurred in West Java, Jakarta, and Banten on Sunday, August 4 was caused by several disturbances in its 500-kV Extra High Voltage Air Duct (SUTET) in Ungaran-Pemalang.

ANTARA