Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) initiated rapid recovery efforts on Friday (28 November) to restore electricity and fuel distribution across Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra following floods and landslides that disrupted regional energy infrastructure. The disaster damaged access routes and impaired transmission facilities, resulting in power outages and constrained fuel supply.
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia directed state-owned electricity provider PT PLN (Persero) to immediately reestablish power for affected residents. Emergency shipments of power-transmission poles arrived early Friday, enabling field teams to begin installation despite several road sections remaining cut off.
Bahlil said he maintained continuous coordination with PLN throughout the night to ensure rapid restoration. He confirmed that some of the transmission towers were airlifted using a Hercules aircraft to accelerate the initial phase of repair works.
To secure fuel availability, Deputy Minister Yuliot stated that Pertamina continued to deliver fuel to operational gas stations even though landslides and road failures made logistics challenging. He affirmed that Pertamina Patra Niaga had deployed teams to maintain distribution to accessible areas.
The ministry also prepared its energy-sector emergency response teams to support on-site handling and accelerate recovery operations in the disaster zones. Bahlil pledged that the government would execute immediate restoration efforts and mobilize necessary assistance. (*)
