Tuesday, 14 July 2026
MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM – Governor of North Sumatra, Bobby Nasution, has urged state electricity company PT PLN to treat the massive blackout across Sumatra as a serious warning and a basis for a comprehensive evaluation of the island's power system.
The prolonged power outage on Friday, May 22, 2026, disrupted public activities in numerous regions across Sumatra, raising concerns over the reliability of electricity infrastructure in the region.
Bobby Nasution delivered the statement during a meeting with Mundakhir Salman on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at his office. The discussion focused on power disruptions triggered by the failure of a high-voltage transmission line in Jambi.
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"We have seen what happened and what caused the incident. The government had instructed all institutions to prepare backup generators. However, because the disruption occurred suddenly, not all sectors were fully protected," Bobby Nasution said.
Blackouts Must Not Become an Annual Occurrence
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The governor stressed that recurring blackouts in Sumatra should no longer be treated as ordinary technical disturbances. With electricity now playing a central role in daily life, he said a stable power supply has become essential.
"The government is currently encouraging the use of electricity in many sectors — from electric stoves and electric vehicles to public transportation such as electric buses. Therefore, we need a reliable guarantee of electricity supply. The term blackout must not continue to appear every year, especially with impacts as extensive and prolonged as this," he said.
Bobby also highlighted the importance of emergency power systems, particularly for hospitals and healthcare facilities with high electricity demands. He noted that the Ministry of Energy had previously stated that the northern Sumatra power system was operating with an electricity surplus.
In addition, the governor called for the expansion of electricity infrastructure on the Nias Islands through additional power plant projects to ensure long-term energy security for local residents.
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PLN Apologizes for Widespread Power Outage
PLN UID North Sumatra officially apologized for the widespread blackout. Mundakhir Salman explained that the outage was caused by a disruption in the power system in Jambi, which affected the entire electricity network in North Sumatra.
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Despite the incident, PLN assured the public that it would significantly improve the preparedness and stability of the power supply system to prevent similar events in the future.
PLN to Strengthen Power Supply for AFF U-19 Championship
Alongside efforts to evaluate the blackout, PLN also announced plans to reinforce electricity infrastructure ahead of the upcoming AFF U-19 Championship in North Sumatra.
Additional backup systems will be installed at stadiums and supporting facilities to ensure uninterrupted electricity during the tournament.
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"In disaster-affected areas, repairs are now only needed in the Central Tapanuli region. For the AFF U-19 Championship, we will significantly strengthen our preparations," Mundakhir Salman said. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Darmailawati | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
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