Reva Sasistiya

Jakarta's recent blackouts have left PLN's residential customers fuming while business owners struggle to keep their doors open. (Photo: Safir Makki, JG)

PLN Boss Prepared To Fall on His Sword

Fahmi Mochtar, the beleaguered president director of state utility PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara, on Thursday said he may not be in his job next month as widespread blackouts continue to plague Greater Jakarta, with more frequent blackouts expected during the Christmas-to-New Year period.

“I may not be being interviewed by you [reporters] next month,” a visibly tired Fahmi said at a press conference late on Thursday. “As the head of the company, who has a duty to the people, I am ready to be replaced at any time.”

Fahmi made the comments after a marathon nine-and-a-half hour meeting with Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Rajasa, along with the ministers for state-owned enterprises and energy.

State-Owned Enterprises Minister Mustafa Abubakar declined to comment on Fahmi’s future as he was leaving the meeting. But he had warned last week that he would sanction top officials at PLN if the utility failed to meet a December deadline to end the rolling blackouts.

Fahmi has been under serious pressure for more than two weeks. On Tuesday, a visibly angry President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono warned him that if PLN could not end the power shortages, it could lose its monopoly to supply power to the country.

Meanwhile, on Thursday the early December target of ending the bulk of the blackouts seemed less likely. PLN revealed that its Muara Karang gas-fired plant would be offline between Christmas and New Year’s Eve because state energy company PT Pertamina would shut off its gas supply.

PLN said it had asked Pertamina to shut off the supply from Dec. 24 to Dec. 31 so it could perform maintenance work originally scheduled for November.

Bambang Praptono, PLN’s director of planning and technology, admitted that this would mean more frequent power cuts during the holiday period.

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