Ahmad Sahroni, the Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), has strongly backed the National Police’s extensive investigation into the recent mass power outage that crippled Sumatra. Emphasizing the profound impact on the public, Sahroni stressed the necessity of a comprehensive and rigorous inquiry.
As previously reported, the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim Polri) immediately dispatched a team to Jambi to delve into the incident. The in-depth investigation commenced on Sunday, May 24, focusing on a critical section of the 275kV High Voltage Air Line (SUTET) between Muara Bungo and Sungai Rumbai in Jambi, specifically targeting Tower 175 and Tower 176 in Tempino Village, Mestong District, Muaro Jambi Regency.
Initial findings from the police investigation suggest that severe bad weather played a pivotal role, causing the transmission system to disconnect from Sumatra’s vital electrical interconnection network.
“I urge the National Police, PLN, and all relevant parties to swiftly conduct a thorough investigation into the root cause of this widespread power outage in Sumatra,” Sahroni told reporters on Monday, May 25, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Sahroni highlighted that the two-day blackout incident inflicted substantial losses upon millions of citizens across Sumatra. He insisted that the investigation must definitively ascertain if any criminal elements contributed to the power grid’s failure, given the severe consequences.
“A clear explanation must be provided, as this incident has adversely affected millions of people. Numerous daily activities, professional work, and crucial businesses were severely hampered, leading to economic losses estimated in the billions of rupiah,” he stated, detailing the extensive financial damage.
“Furthermore, if there are any indications of criminal offenses, they must be thoroughly investigated, as this is an extremely critical incident. Someone must be held accountable for this catastrophe,” Sahroni added, demanding concrete action and responsibility.
The General Treasurer of the NasDem Party further argued that a firm and transparent explanation is paramount to quashing the rampant speculation circulating among the public regarding the cause of the widespread electrical disruption.
“Presently, there’s a surge of speculation and unsubstantiated rumors on social media concerning this power outage. It is imperative that these be corrected with factual evidence and real findings from the ground, ensuring clarity and preventing further public unrest,” Sahroni concluded, stressing the importance of clear communication to prevent misinformation.
Allegedly Caused by Bad Weather
The Bareskrim Polri had initiated its investigation into the widespread power outage affecting numerous regions in Sumatra as early as Friday, May 22. The investigation’s focal point was the specific disruption site at the SUTET 175-176 high-voltage air line in Tempino Village, Muaro Jambi Regency.
Inspector General Pol. Nunung Syaifuddin, the Deputy Head of Bareskrim Polri, reported that field investigators discovered a broken transmission cable at the site. This critical damage was triggered by severe bad weather conditions, which caused instability in electrical frequency and voltage, subsequently initiating a cascading series of power plant trips.
“This disturbance led to severe instability in electrical frequency and voltage, which then triggered a chain reaction of power plant shutdowns, resulting in a mass blackout across various regions of Sumatra, including Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, and parts of South Sumatra,” Nunung elaborated during a press conference on Monday, May 25, outlining the extensive impact.
“The joint Bareskrim Polri team was deployed to the location suspected to be the initial point of disruption, specifically around the transmission tower in Tempino Village, Mestong District, Muaro Jambi Regency. There, a broken transmission cable was indeed discovered,” he further confirmed, providing definitive evidence from the scene.
Summary
Ahmad Sahroni, Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives, strongly backs the National Police’s extensive investigation into Sumatra’s recent mass power outage. He highlighted the severe impact on millions of citizens, causing estimated economic losses in billions of rupiah due to disrupted daily activities and businesses. Sahroni urged a thorough inquiry into the root cause, including potential criminal elements, demanding accountability and a clear explanation to counter public speculation.
The National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim Polri) launched its investigation, focusing on a critical section of the 275kV High Voltage Air Line (SUTET) at Tower 175 and 176 in Tempino Village, Jambi. Initial findings indicate severe bad weather caused a broken transmission cable at this site. This damage led to instability in electrical frequency and voltage, triggering a cascading series of power plant shutdowns across multiple Sumatran provinces.