Open Letter: Regarding the Fragility of National’s Electricity Infrastructure & Vital Object

*East Blue HQ, Jl. Pondok Kopi Raya No.180

Jakarta Timur, 13460

June 5th, 2024

Dear Pak Darmawan Prasodjo,?

PT. PLN (Persero)

I hope this letter finds you well. My name is Bima, a concerned citizen of Indonesia, writing in response to the recent blackout incident that occurred on June 4th, 2024 (just yesterday in the time of writing) which has once again highlighted the fragility of our national electricity grid and supply.

As you may recall, the previous blackout on August 2019 in Java-Bali Grid caused significant disruptions across these regions, and it is deeply concerning that similar issues have re-surfaced although on the different independent Grid. The blackout in Sumatera Island and its relevant Grid resulted in halted transportation, business temporary shutdowns, safety hazards, and others indirect social negative impact could affecting millions of lives and causing substantial economic losses.

These outages raise critical questions about the resilience and reliability of our electricity infrastructure. Despite infrequent and rare in nature, such magnitude of power disruptions (massive-region Black Out) not only hamper daily activities but also pose serious risks, especially during emergencies. The national grid's vulnerability underscores the urgent need for comprehensive & sustainable solutions.?

In light of this event, I would like also to take this opportunity to pay tribute to my late Professor during my university year at Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Prof. Pekik Argo Dahono, whose visionary work on the concept of the Super-Grid continues to inspire many in the field. Prof. Pekik’s foresight in advocating for a Super-Grid: a high-capacity interconnected transmission network throughout Indonesia Islands that can integrate and shared various energy sources, supply-demand balancing, including tapping our huge national renewables resources on a large scale - holds the key to enabling transformational advancements in Indonesia's electricity and renewable energy sectors. His vision of a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable power system has never been timely and is more relevant now than ever.

In line with Prof. Pekik’s vision, I urge PT. PLN to consider the following points:

1. Infrastructure Upgrade: Invest in modernizing the grid infrastructure to ensure it can handle decentralization framework, demand fluctuations and adverse conditions without failures.

2. Accountability: Provide access to detailed reports on the findings of recent blackout investigations and outline the strategic measures planned to prevent such recurrence.

3. Super-Grid Implementation: Consider the development and integration of a Super-Grid as envisioned by Prof.Pekik to bolster the scalability and sustainability of our electricity network, supporting a greater share of renewable energy sources.

We, the citizens, rely heavily on the continuous and efficient supply of electricity for our daily lives and business-economic activities. It is imperative that PT.PLN takes these concerns seriously and works towards restoring public confidence in our power supply system.The legacy of Prof. Pekik reminds us of the transformative potential that lies in innovative approaches and forward-thinking solutions. I hope PT. PLN will honor his vision by pioneering advancements that lead our nation towards a more stable, secure and sustainable energy future.

I look forward to seeing real, tangible & transparent improvements in our electricity services and frameworks. Thank you for your attention to this crucial matter.

Sincerely,

Bima Deniansha

PT. Energi Teknologi Indonesia (EnergiHub)