Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), recently conducted an inspection of the accelerated electricity recovery efforts underway in several disaster-affected areas across North Sumatra on Wednesday, December 3rd. This visit underscores the government’s commitment to swiftly restore essential services to communities impacted by recent natural calamities.
Accompanied by PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo, Minister Bahlil personally assessed the conditions in Sibolga and Central Tapanuli. These two regions had been left devastated by severe floods and landslides that struck at the end of November, causing widespread destruction to critical infrastructure.
Minister Bahlil stated that the primary purpose of his visit was to ensure the rapid acceleration of electricity restoration, guarantee the availability of necessary repair materials, and facilitate the smooth distribution of logistical support to the affected regions, striving for optimal operation.
He emphasized that despite initial challenges posed by severed access routes, continuous efforts are being made to push for emergency response and comprehensive network construction. This accelerated approach is crucial following the extensive damage to electrical infrastructure caused by the recent disasters in the area.
“Please pray for good weather. For the collapsed electricity transmission towers, the materials are now available. This is indeed not an easy task. We pray that by Friday night, the lights will be on as they should be,” Minister Bahlil remarked, highlighting the complexity of the restoration work and setting a hopeful target.
Meanwhile, North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution expressed his profound appreciation for PLN’s unwavering commitment to expediting the electricity recovery process in areas affected by floods and landslides throughout the province. He voiced his strong hope that post-disaster power normalization would be completed without further delay.
“First and foremost, this is about the electricity supply. The power supply has been gradually recovering, with areas like Sibolga already showing significant improvement. We hope that electricity in all affected locations can soon be fully restored to 100% as targeted,” Governor Bobby affirmed, reflecting cautious optimism about the progress.
PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo further elaborated that beyond Sibolga and Central Tapanuli, several other locations in North Sumatra also served as epicenters of the disaster, sustaining severe damage to their electrical systems. This includes Hutagodang Village and Garoga Village in South Tapanuli, where the impact was particularly devastating.
In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, PLN teams collaborated closely with local government bodies and the Indonesian Army (TNI). Together, they tirelessly worked to reopen road access to Hutagodang Village, ultimately succeeding in restoring the vital electricity supply for its residents.
“Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God), the restoration of the Padang Sidempuan – Hutaimbaru electricity network on Wednesday night, December 3rd, yielded positive results. Hutagodang Village and its surrounding areas are now brightly lit, with electricity fully restored,” Darmawan proudly announced, marking a significant milestone in the recovery efforts.
Darmawan continued by explaining that electricity restoration efforts were also being conducted in parallel across numerous other affected locations. One such area was Garoga Village, which had become isolated by thick mud and flood debris, severely hindering PLN teams from accessing the village.
“Through the spirit of ‘gotong royong’ (mutual cooperation) with the TNI, Polri (Indonesian National Police), and the Local Government, the access route to Garoga Village was successfully cleared yesterday, Tuesday, December 2nd. In a remarkably short period, PLN teams immediately re-erected 60 fallen poles. We are striving to ensure this village receives electricity as soon as possible, so that areas previously plunged into darkness can once again be illuminated,” he stated, underlining the intensive, collaborative drive to bring light back to the community.
Darmawan emphasized PLN’s steadfast commitment, in conjunction with all relevant stakeholders, to accelerate the recovery of post-disaster electrical infrastructure. Through this robust collaboration, the aim is to swiftly restore the power supply, enabling all affected communities to once again enjoy the benefits of electricity.
“In line with government directives channeled through the Ministry of ESDM, we are continuously deploying all available resources to expedite electricity restoration across Sumatra. We extend our deepest gratitude for the unwavering support from the TNI, Polri, and local governments, who have consistently accompanied PLN teams in their challenging work on the ground. This vital assistance has provided crucial facilitations amidst extraordinary challenges,” Darmawan concluded, acknowledging the critical role of inter-agency cooperation.
Summary
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia, accompanied by PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo, inspected accelerated electricity recovery efforts in disaster-affected areas of North Sumatra on December 3rd. His visit to Sibolga and Central Tapanuli aimed to ensure swift restoration, guarantee necessary repair materials, and facilitate logistical support after severe floods and landslides at the end of November. The Minister highlighted the complexity but expressed hope for power restoration by Friday night.
PLN has made significant progress in restoring power, collaborating closely with local governments and the Indonesian Army. The electricity network for Padang Sidempuan – Hutaimbaru, including Hutagodang Village, was fully restored on December 3rd. Recovery efforts are also underway in Garoga Village, where access was cleared and 60 fallen poles re-erected through mutual cooperation, with PLN committed to accelerating full power restoration across all affected communities.
