Aceh Power Grid Back Online after Sumatra Floods

JAMBI-INDEPENDENT.CO.ID - The state-owned electricity firm, PT PLN, has reconnected Aceh's grid to the Sumatran backbone electricity system after restoring the 150-kilovolt (kV) Pangkalan Brandan-Langsa transmission line.

"The reconnection of the Pangkalan Brandan-Langsa transmission line is a crucial milestone in Aceh's electricity recovery. This line serves as the backbone of the Sumatra-Aceh interconnection. The restoration plays a vital role in the next phase of comprehensive system recovery," PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo said on Wednesday, 17 December 2025.

The transmission line was disrupted due to flooding and landslides that struck northern Sumatra in late November. This disruption isolated Aceh's power system from the Sumatran backbone electricity system.

The successful restoration of the line was recorded on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. local time.

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Prasodjo detailed that the restoration was carried out by constructing emergency towers at several transmission points affected by flooding and landslides, allowing the Pangkalan Brandan-Langsa line to safely resume operation.

Following the restoration, PLN is re-operating the power plants, particularly the Nagan Raya steam power plant (PLTU).

This process will gradually restore Aceh's electricity supply, with optimal operation expected to take approximately 48 hours to account for warm-up, system synchronization, and performance testing, Prasodjo remarked.

According to him, these steps must be completed before increasing the system load to maintain reliable power flow and avoid further disturbances.

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"Electricity restoration must be carried out sequentially. Once the interconnection is secure, we will begin operating the power plants to ensure optimal supply and reliable system support," he explained.

For the next phase, the electricity supply will be gradually distributed to the distribution network through 20 main substations, 558 feeder units, and 15,717 distribution substations serving communities throughout Aceh.

To support the entire recovery process, more than 1,600 PLN officers remain on standby until the post-disaster electricity restoration in Aceh is complete, he emphasized.

In addition, he mentioned that parts of Aceh are still inundated with mud and water, requiring the normalization of the power network to be conducted carefully to prevent risks to the public. (ANTARA)

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