Ahmad Sahroni, Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), has publicly backed the National Police’s (Polri) extensive investigation into the widespread Sumatra blackout. He emphasized the critical need for a comprehensive inquiry, given the immense repercussions the incident has had on the public.
The National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim Polri) promptly deployed teams to Jambi to directly probe the Sumatra power outage. Their investigation commenced at the 275kV High Voltage Air Transmission Line (SUTET) spanning from Muara Bungo to Sungai Rumbai in Jambi. Specifically, their focus centered on Tower 175 and 176 in Tempino Village, Mestong District, Muaro Jambi, starting Sunday, May 24.
According to preliminary findings from the investigation, severe bad weather conditions were identified as the root cause, leading to the transmission system disconnecting from Sumatra’s vital electrical interconnection.
“I urge Polri, PLN, and all relevant stakeholders to immediately conduct a total investigation into the root cause of this Sumatra power outage,” Sahroni stated to reporters on Monday, May 25. His call underscores the urgency for a definitive explanation.
Sahroni further highlighted the profound impact of the two-day blackout, which inflicted significant losses upon millions of people across Sumatra. He stressed the importance of ascertaining whether any criminal elements contributed to the incident.
“Provide a clear explanation, because this incident has severely impacted millions of citizens. Numerous activities, jobs, and businesses were disrupted, undoubtedly incurring losses amounting to billions of rupiah,” Sahroni elaborated. He added, “Furthermore, investigate if there are any indications of criminal elements present, as this is a very fatal incident. Someone must be held responsible.”
The NasDem Party’s Treasurer General asserted that a firm and transparent explanation is paramount to counter the various speculations circulating within the community regarding the cause of the widespread outage.
“Currently, there is much guesswork and many wild issues circulating on social media concerning this power outage. This is precisely what needs to be clarified with concrete facts and real findings from the field, to prevent unnecessary uproar amidst a lack of clarity,” Sahroni concluded, underscoring the need for official communication.
Allegedly Due to Bad Weather
Bareskrim Polri initiated its investigation into the cause of the widespread electricity outage that affected several regions in Sumatra on Friday, May 22. The primary focus of their probe was the disruption point at High Voltage Air Transmission Line (SUTET) Towers 175-176 in Tempino Village, Muaro Jambi Regency.
The Deputy Chief of Bareskrim Polri, Police Inspector General Nunung Syaifuddin, revealed that investigators at the scene discovered a broken transmission cable. This critical failure was attributed to adverse weather conditions, which led to frequency and voltage instability, subsequently triggering a cascading series of generator trips across the grid.
“The disruption caused instability in electrical frequency and voltage, which then triggered a chain reaction of generator trips, resulting in a mass blackout across several areas of Sumatra, including Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, and parts of South Sumatra,” Nunung explained during a press conference on Monday, May 25, detailing the extensive reach of the incident.
Nunung further confirmed, “The joint Bareskrim Polri team was present at the location suspected to be the initial point of disruption, specifically around the transmission tower in Tempino Village, Mestong District, Muaro Jambi. A broken transmission cable was indeed found.”
Summary
Ahmad Sahroni, Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the DPR RI, has urged the National Police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the recent Sumatra blackout, highlighting its severe impact on millions of citizens. The National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim Polri) promptly deployed teams to Jambi, focusing their inquiry on the 275kV High Voltage Air Transmission Line (SUTET) at Towers 175 and 176 in Muaro Jambi. Sahroni stressed the urgency for a clear explanation of the root cause and to ascertain if any criminal elements contributed to the incident, which caused billions in losses and disrupted numerous activities.
Preliminary findings from Bareskrim Polri’s investigation point to severe adverse weather conditions as the cause, leading to a broken transmission cable at the disruption site. This failure resulted in electrical frequency and voltage instability, triggering a cascading series of generator trips across several provinces, including Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, and parts of South Sumatra. Deputy Chief of Bareskrim Polri, Police Inspector General Nunung Syaifuddin, confirmed the discovery of the broken cable, aiming to provide factual clarity amid public speculation.