Aceh. The President Director of state utility company PT PLN (Persero), Darmawan Prasodjo, personally oversaw post-disaster electricity recovery efforts following severe floods and landslides in Aceh.

Together with the Aceh Provincial Government, the Iskandar Muda Regional Military Command, the Sultan Iskandar Muda Air Force Base, and the Aceh Regional Police, he dispatched emergency response personnel and materials to repair damaged 150-kilovolt (kV) high-voltage transmission towers (SUTT) in affected areas.

During the Aceh Disaster Recovery Readiness Roll Call at Sultan Iskandar Muda Air Base on Saturday, Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf said the province suffered extensive damage after the floods and landslides. According to the latest data, 18 out of 23 districts and cities in Aceh were severely affected. Many areas remain isolated due to collapsed communication lines and widespread power outages after several PLN towers fell.

“There are many victims, including villages and places that have vanished. We still don’t know their current condition. God willing, with support from PLN Aceh and the central office, the damaged power supply can be restored soon,” Muzakir said.

He expressed appreciation for PLN’s swift action and the support of other stakeholders in sending aid and technical assistance to Aceh.

“With this kind of assistance, we extend our gratitude to PLN’s leadership for helping Aceh. May God reward all our efforts,” he added.

Darmawan said 12 high-voltage transmission towers collapsed due to the floods and landslides, disrupting power supply across Aceh. PLN has deployed around 500 personnel from various units across Indonesia to accelerate the construction of temporary transmission towers.

“Since day one, PLN has been on full alert. This morning, we dispatched emergency teams to disaster-hit locations. We also directly inspected the readiness of personnel and materials needed to build temporary towers,” Darmawan said.

He said that PLN has been mobilizing materials nonstop. With support from the provincial government, the military, police, and the Aceh Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), personnel, tower components, and humanitarian aid are being delivered both overland and by air to isolated areas using helicopters and aircraft.

“We transported tower set materials from Java using TNI Hercules aircraft. We also brought in experts and joint teams. Everyone is mobilized — in collaboration with local governments, rescue teams, the military, and the police — including for distributing generators, food supplies, emergency lights, and more,” he said.

Darmawan stressed that PLN will maximize all available resources to speed up power restoration in Aceh so that electricity supply can return to normal as quickly as possible.

“We are working tirelessly so affected communities can resume their activities and have electricity again. Hundreds of personnel are working all out, 24 hours nonstop, to complete this humanitarian mission,” he said.

In addition to accelerating repairs, PLN has stationed generators at vital facilities such as hospitals, clinics, airports, and government offices to ensure essential services remain operational. Emergency lamps have also been distributed to houses of worship and evacuation shelters so nighttime activities can continue safely.

“We have established the Nagan Raya island operation with up to 100 megawatts (MW) of load and the Arun island operation with 16 MW. This allows parts of Aceh, especially public service facilities, to continue receiving electricity,” he added.

PLN also delivered humanitarian aid packages containing basic necessities to affected residents, symbolically handed over to Governor Muzakir Manaf. The assistance aims to support communities during the recovery period.

“We are doing our best. May this mission be eased, the people strengthened, and the disaster managed properly. May everything return to normal soon,” Darmawan concluded.

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