To prevent blackouts due to drought, electricity in Sulbagsel is supplemented by diesel

The long drought has caused water discharge, the main source of hydroelectric power generation, to decrease.

DOKUMENTASI PLN SULSELRABAR

Condition of the Bakaru Hydroelectric Power Plant in Pinrang Regency, South Sulawesi, mid-October 2023. Water discharge is reduced due to drought.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The government together with PT Perusahaan Electric Negara (Persero) ensures a gradual increase in electricity supply in Southern Sulawesi produced from diesel power plants and mobile power plants. This was done in anticipation of a recurrence of electricity supply shortages in the region due to drought which caused rolling blackouts in 2023.

In 2023, rotating power outages will occur in the Southern Sulawesi region (Sulbagsel) which is partly due to the prolonged dry season. The long drought has caused water discharge, the main source of hydroelectric power generation (PLTA), to decrease. As a result, the electricity supply dropped. However, the various power plants in Sulbagsel can anticipate this.

Based on data from the Directorate General of Electricity of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), until March 2024 the region's generating energy consists of coal 50 .89 percent, gas 11.02 percent; water 29.40 percent; wind 2.26 percent; and fuel oil (BBM) 6.43 percent.

Also read: Water is difficult and electricity is out in Makassar

"We hope that blackouts like 2023 will not happen again because we have added a supply of 180 megawatts (MW) and are already operational. "(It) consists of an 80 MW PLTD (diesel power plant) and a 100 MW MPP (mobile power plant)," said the Director General of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Jisman P Hutajulu, when contacted on Sunday (5/5/ 2024).

KOMPAS/IWAN SETIYAWAN

Rows of wind turbines belonging to the Tolo-1 Wind Power Plant (PLTB) in Jeneponto Regency, South Sulawesi, were seen on Saturday (2/2/2019). With a capacity of 72 MW, this wind power plant is the second-largest in Indonesia after the Sidrap Wind Power Plant with a capacity of 75 MW.

He added that in addition to the additional supply of 180 MW that has been operational, there will be an additional approximately 727 MW. "This will be done gradually until the end of this year and some of next year," he continued.

Currently, PLN Sulselbar operating in the Sulbagsel region operates five hydropower plants. These are the Poso hydropower plant in Poso Regency, Central Sulawesi, with a capacity of 515 WW. Then the Bakaru hydropower plant in Pinrang Regency, South Sulawesi, with a capacity of 126 MW, the Malea hydropower plant in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi (2 x 45 MW), the Larona hydropower plant (165 MW), and the Balambano hydropower plant (110 MW), both located in East Luwu, South Sulawesi.

For the Poso Hydroelectric Power Plant, the water source comes from the Poso River. As for the Bakaru Hydroelectric Power Plant, it utilizes the Mamasa and Saddang rivers as water sources. Meanwhile, the Larona and Balambano hydroelectric power plants utilize the Larona River and Lake Matano, Towuti, and Mahalona as water sources. The Malea hydroelectric power plant relies on the Saddang River. The current condition of these rivers has resulted in reduced water flow, making it difficult for the hydroelectric power plants to meet electricity demand. Currently, PLN relies on supplies from the Sidrap and Jeneponto Thermal Power Plants, as well as several Gas and Steam Power Plants (PLTU and PLTGU).

Previously, at the end of last year, in an announcement on the official account of PLN Distribution in South Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, and West Sulawesi (Sulselrabar), it was mentioned that prolonged dry season caused a decrease in water discharge. The capacity of the hydropower plant decreased by around 75 percent from 850 megawatts (MW) to 200 MW. (Kompas.id, 24/10/2023)

During El Nino, the reliability of wind power plants also decreases.

The condition has caused power outages. In September 2023, PLN announced maintenance in several power plants and transmissions. At that time, the outages only lasted for 1 hour and not every day. However, some time later, the outages became 3 hours each time. Even since Sunday (22/10/2023), the outage time has increased to 4 hours.

During the press conference on the 2023 achievements on January 18, 2024, the Directorate General of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources also acknowledged the lack of anticipation for it. During El Nino, the reliability of wind power plants also decreased. This serves as a lesson for 2024 to prevent similar incidents from happening, even though the 2024 rainfall is predicted to be higher than the previous year.

KOMPAS/WISNU WIDIANTORO

A number of Sidrap Wind Power Plant turbines can be seen on one of the three hills in Mattirosi and Lainungan villages, Watang Pulu district, Sidenreng Rappang Regency, South Sulawesi, on Monday (July 22, 2019).

Depends on the season

To ensure the reliability of electricity supply in Sulbagsel, particularly during the dry season and El Nino, Jisman visited Sulbagsel at the end of April 2024. One of the places he visited was the Tolo Jeneponto Wind Power Plant, located in South Sulawesi.

"When El Nino or the dry season occurs, PLN must be on guard and what kind of mitigation," said Jisman in his statement.

With the diversity of power generation sources in South Sulawesi, Jisman considers it a unique situation. Moreover, coal is highly dependent on the season. He also emphasizes that the government and PLN need to learn from experience in managing primary energy supply so that electricity remains reliable for distribution to the community.

Also read: This year, schools and offices in Makassar use solar power

PLN's Director of Generation Management, Adi Lumakso, added that PLN has prepared anticipation to overcome potential disruptions in electricity supply due to the dry season and El Nino. In the future, Sulbagsel's electricity challenges will also be stronger because the load (electricity sales) has just grown to 6.73 gigawatts (GW).

"Basically, we rely on experience. Therefore, we need proper coordination of strategies in terms of generation, transmission, and regulation," said Adi.

KOMPAS/RENY SRI AYU ARMAN

Visitors are enjoying the sight of wind turbines in the Tolo Wind Power Plant, Jeneponto, South Sulawesi, on Saturday (23/4/2022). Since its operation, this power generation area has become a tourist destination for the locals.

Energy economist and lecturer at the Department of Economics and Business at Universitas Gadjah Mada's Vocational School in Yogyakarta, Fahmy Radhi, said on Sunday that power outages due to decreased supply must be ensured to not happen again. The variety of generators in Sulawesi is a positive thing, it just needs to be ensured that the supply management is well-established.

According to him, there are two steps that can be taken if supply constraints still occur during El Nino. "First, by using available power plants or old power plants that are economically expired. Second, it can be done with a generator set. The main thing is that power outages should not last for days. However, PLN is certainly used to and capable of overcoming problems like this," he said.

In the future, added Fahmy, the various sources of electricity generation can complement each other in the need for electricity supply. The development of electricity transmission networks will also increase reliability as electricity distribution can be more widely spread to the community.

Quoting a report on the website of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), most regions in Indonesia are predicted to experience the beginning of the dry season in May-August 2024. During the 2024 Dry Season, most areas are predicted to experience normal rainfall conditions. The peak of the dry season in most regions is predicted to occur in July-August 2024.