Minister Bahlil Reports To President Prabowo On Aceh's Power Restoration Progress

Jakarta – Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Minister, Bahlil Lahadalia, presented a critical update on the electricity crisis in flood-impacted Aceh to President Prabowo Subianto. The report, delivered during a full cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace on Monday, outlined both the progress made and the significant hurdles that remain in restoring power to the region.

Minister Bahlil confirmed that the total power generation capacity available for the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, stands at approximately 110 megawatts (MW). However, he noted that not all of this capacity is currently operational. To bridge the gap, authorities are relying heavily on temporary generator sets to supply essential electricity.

"Thank God, last night an average of 60 megawatts for Banda Aceh's needs was already distributed. We are using generators for some of it," Bahlil stated. This supply is crucial for powering emergency services, shelters, and what remains of the commercial infrastructure in the devastated area.

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A significant point of progress is the repair of the main electricity grid. The Minister reported that the installation of the main substation network in the affected region has now reached between 80% and 90% completion. This work is foundational to restoring a stable and permanent power supply.

Bahlil projected optimism for the near future, setting a tight deadline for the remaining work. "Maybe around this week, at the latest Wednesday or Thursday, it can all be finished. When this is done, then the power flow from Arun, Bireun, can enter normally and the transmission for the Sumatra route can already be connected," he explained to the cabinet.

Despite this progress, the Minister outlined persistent and serious challenges preventing full restoration. He reported that electricity cannot yet be channeled to all affected villages due to severe infrastructure damage, including collapsed low-voltage power poles and impassable road access.

Safety remains a paramount concern for the restoration teams. Bahlil emphasized that several villages are still submerged by floodwaters, making the distribution of electricity exceptionally risky. "If we force this to be electrified, it will lead to accidents in the community," he cautioned, highlighting the need for a measured, safety-first approach.

The report underscores the layered complexity of post-disaster recovery, where repairing central infrastructure is only one step. The full rehabilitation of Aceh's power grid is contingent on the receding of floodwaters and the extensive repair of localized distribution networks, a task that will extend beyond the immediate crisis period.

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Aceh Bahlil Lahadalia Disaster Recovery Electricity Energy Infrastructure Flood Indonesia Power Outage Prabowo Subianto