PT PLN (Persero) President Director, Darmawan Prasodjo, has personally overseen the extensive electricity restoration efforts in Aceh following devastating floods and landslides. In a unified display of rapid response, he joined forces with the Aceh Provincial Government, the Iskandar Muda Military Command (Kodam Iskandar Muda), Sultan Iskandar Muda Air Force Base (TNI AU), and the Aceh Regional Police (Polda Aceh) to dispatch emergency response personnel and crucial repair materials for the 150-kilovolt (kV) High Voltage Air Lines (SUTT) towers to the impacted areas.
During an Aceh Disaster Recovery Team Alert Roll Call held at the Sultan Iskandar Muda Air Base on Saturday, November 29, Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf underscored the severe damage inflicted upon the province by the dual natural disasters. The aftermath has left a significant portion of Aceh in dire straits.
Recent assessments reveal that 18 out of Aceh’s 23 regencies and cities have sustained severe damage. Tragically, residents in these areas remain isolated, grappling with disrupted communication access and widespread power outages, primarily due to the collapse of numerous PLN-owned transmission towers.
“Many victims have been identified, and several villages and locations have simply vanished; their status remains unknown,” Muzakir Manaf stated with concern. He added, “God willing, with the support from both PLN Aceh and the central government, we hope that the severed electricity supply will be restored in the near future.”
Governor Manaf also conveyed his profound appreciation for the proactive and rapid mobilization by PLN and its collaborating stakeholders. Their swift action in deploying vital aid and technical support to Aceh has been invaluable during this critical period.
Expressing his gratitude, Governor Manaf remarked, “With this kind of assistance, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the leadership of PLN for their unwavering support to Aceh. May all our collective trust and efforts be rewarded by Allah SWT. Amen.”
Meanwhile, PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo confirmed that the landslides and floods resulted in the collapse of a total of 12 SUTT towers, severely disrupting the electricity supply across Aceh. To accelerate the construction of emergency transmission towers, PLN has deployed approximately 500 joint personnel, drawing expertise from various PLN units nationwide.
“From the very first day of the disaster, PLN declared a full alert status. This morning, we officially dispatched our emergency response teams to the affected locations,” Darmawan explained. “We also personally conducted on-site checks to ensure the readiness of both personnel and materials essential for erecting these emergency transmission towers.”
Darmawan further elaborated on the relentless mobilization of PLN materials, which is being carried out non-stop. With robust support from the Aceh Provincial Government, the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), and the Aceh Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), all distribution efforts—including personnel, tower materials, and humanitarian aid—are being facilitated. Deliveries are dispatched via land routes or airlifted to isolated locations using helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
“We have deployed sets of tower materials from Java, transported by TNI Hercules aircraft. Additionally, we have brought in specialized experts and joint teams,” Darmawan detailed. “Everyone is working collaboratively with local governments, rescue teams, TNI, and Polri. This coordinated effort also extends to the distribution of generators, basic necessities, emergency lights, and other essential items.”
Darmawan emphasized PLN’s unwavering commitment to optimizing all available resources to expedite electricity recovery in Aceh. The paramount goal is to ensure that a stable power supply is restored to communities as quickly as possible.
“We are relentlessly working to enable affected communities to resume their daily activities and for power to be fully restored. Hundreds of dedicated personnel are on the ground, operating 24 hours a day, non-stop, to fulfill this critical humanitarian mission,” Darmawan affirmed, highlighting the scale of the commitment.
Beyond accelerating general electricity recovery, PLN has strategically stationed generators at vital public facilities such as hospitals, community health centers, airports, and government offices. This ensures that essential services for Aceh residents continue uninterrupted. Furthermore, emergency lighting assistance has been distributed to places of worship and evacuation centers, allowing night-time activities to proceed safely.
“We are establishing ‘island operations’ in Nagan Raya, capable of supporting up to 100 Megawatts (MW), and another in Arun with a capacity of 16 MW,” he explained. “This innovative approach ensures that significant parts of Aceh, particularly public service facilities, can still receive a reliable power supply.”
PLN has also extended direct humanitarian aid by providing packages of basic necessities to the affected population. These were symbolically handed over to Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf, with the hope that this aid will address the fundamental needs of residents throughout the ongoing recovery period.
“We are striving for the absolute best. May this arduous struggle be eased, may all communities be strengthened, and may we manage this disaster effectively. Our fervent hope is that everything will swiftly return to normal,” Darmawan concluded, projecting a message of resilience and hope.
Summary
PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo has personally overseen extensive electricity restoration efforts in Aceh following devastating floods and landslides. These natural disasters severely damaged 18 out of 23 regencies and cities, causing widespread power outages due to the collapse of 12 high-voltage transmission towers. Collaborating with the Aceh Provincial Government, TNI, and Polri, PLN declared a full alert and rapidly dispatched emergency personnel and crucial repair materials.
Approximately 500 joint personnel are working 24/7 to construct emergency transmission towers and restore power across Aceh. PLN has deployed resources from across the country, using land routes and airlifts for delivery, and established “island operations” in Nagan Raya and Arun to ensure a reliable supply for public services. Additionally, PLN has provided generators for vital facilities, distributed emergency lighting, and supplied humanitarian aid to affected communities.