PLN President Director Leads Efforts to Restore Power During Bali Blackout

INDONESIAUPDATES.COM, News En – On Friday afternoon, May 2, 2025, Bali experienced a major power outage that led to a full blackout across the island. The disruption, which impacted residents and businesses, prompted a swift response from PLN (State Electricity Company) President Director Darmawan Prasodjo, who personally oversaw the restoration efforts.

Governor of Bali, I Wayan Koster, commended PLN’s fast and responsive actions during the incident. He highlighted how Darmawan Prasodjo and the PLN team worked tirelessly, providing constant updates on the progress of the recovery process. “I appreciate the fast, alert, and responsive steps taken by PLN during the electrical repairs in Bali. Almost every hour during the repairs, the PLN President Director continued to report the progress in detail,” Koster stated in a written statement.

Koster further acknowledged the hard work of hundreds of PLN personnel who were deployed to restore electricity. In under 12 hours, power was fully restored across Bali. He also urged PLN to continue maintaining reliable electricity services, especially since Bali frequently hosts international events. The upcoming IFSC Climbing World Cup, a significant international rock climbing competition, is one such event.

PLN’s Apology and Appreciation

Darmawan Prasodjo, in response to the blackout and the inconvenience caused, expressed his deepest apologies. He also thanked the Governor and the people of Bali for their patience and understanding during the restoration process. “We from the PLN Board of Directors who were present to lead the electricity restoration process in Bali would like to express our deepest apologies for the inconvenience that occurred yesterday. We are also grateful for the support of the Governor and all the people of Bali,” he said.

Celukan Bawang Power Plant Not to Blame for Bali Blackout

As the blackout’s cause came under investigation, PT General Energy Bali (GEB), the operator of the Celukan Bawang Steam Power Plant (PLTU), clarified that their power plant was not the source of the blackout. According to Helmy Rosadi, the Technical Manager of Celukan Bawang PLTU, the power outage was caused by a significant disruption to the 150 kV High Voltage Air Duct (SUTT) in East Java. This disruption affected the submarine cable system connecting Java and Bali, which normally supplies 270 MW of power. Due to this, the power supply to Bali was completely cut off.

Helmy emphasized that there was an imbalance between power supply and demand in Bali’s system, which caused the frequency to drop below safe levels, triggering automatic disconnections of power plants, including the Celukan Bawang PLTU. He confirmed that the PLTU only tripped one minute after other plants had already disconnected from the grid. “This is an automatic response from the system to a major disruption in the network,” Helmy clarified.

Following the blackout, Celukan Bawang PLTU’s technical team immediately initiated emergency procedures to ensure all units were safe before being brought back online. The plant’s team followed the standard operating procedures (SOP) to restore functionality.

PLN’s quick actions and Darmawan Prasodjo’s leadership helped mitigate the effects of the Bali blackout, restoring power within hours. While the cause of the blackout was traced to an issue with the East Java 150 kV system, Celukan Bawang PLTU’s role in the event was clarified, with the plant’s automatic disconnection seen as a safety measure. Moving forward, PLN and local authorities will continue to prioritize reliability as Bali remains a key host for international events.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Bali Blackout on May 2, 2025

What caused the Bali blackout on May 2, 2025?
The blackout was caused by a major disruption to the 150 kV High Voltage Air Duct (SUTT) in East Java, which impacted the submarine cable system supplying power to Bali. This led to a complete loss of power to Bali, as the power supply dropped to 0 MW.
Was the Celukan Bawang PLTU responsible for the blackout?
No, the Celukan Bawang Steam Power Plant (PLTU) was not the cause of the blackout. The plant’s Unit 2 tripped one minute after other plants had already disconnected from the grid due to a system-wide imbalance in power supply. The plant’s technical team followed the necessary safety procedures.
What actions did PLN take to restore power?
PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo led the restoration efforts personally. Hundreds of PLN personnel worked around the clock to bring power back to Bali, and in less than 12 hours, electricity was fully restored.
How did Governor I Wayan Koster respond to the PLN’s efforts?
Governor Koster praised PLN for their fast and responsive actions during the crisis. He acknowledged the detailed progress reports provided by PLN’s President Director and expressed appreciation for the efforts made by PLN personnel in restoring electricity.
What did Darmawan Prasodjo say about the situation?
Darmawan Prasodjo apologized for the inconvenience caused by the blackout and thanked the Governor and the people of Bali for their support and patience during the restoration process.
What did Governor Koster suggest about the future reliability of Bali’s electricity?
Governor Koster urged PLN to maintain the reliability of electricity services in Bali, especially since the island hosts several international events, including the upcoming IFSC Climbing World Cup.
Was there a delay in restoring electricity in Bali?
No, electricity was restored in less than 12 hours after the blackout occurred. PLN worked swiftly to address the situation and resume power supply to the island.
How did Celukan Bawang PLTU handle the situation?
After the blackout, the technical team at Celukan Bawang PLTU immediately followed emergency procedures and conducted thorough checks to ensure all units were in a safe condition before being reconnected to the grid.
What is PLN’s commitment following this incident?
PLN remains committed to maintaining reliable electricity supply and ensuring that such incidents do not disrupt the services in the future. They continue to prioritize quick response times and transparency in handling such events.
Are there any long-term measures being taken to prevent future blackouts?
PLN will continue to monitor and improve the power grid infrastructure and response protocols to minimize the risk of future outages. The restoration efforts and the response to this blackout will help refine their procedures for future incidents.