Jakarta — The Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) has warned that Indonesia’s electricity system faces growing risks from extreme weather events, following recent widespread power outages in Sumatra linked to severe weather and transmission failures.
Speaking at a webinar on Thursday, June 25, Deon Arinaldo, IESR’s Director of Energy System Transformation, said recent blackouts in Sumatra should serve as a warning that power system reliability must go beyond affordability and uninterrupted supply to include infrastructure resilience.
Two major incidents in Sumatra prompted the discussion. On May 22, a widespread blackout in Sumatra was reportedly triggered by bad weather that disrupted transmission infrastructure in Muaro Bungo, Jambi. Weeks later, in early June, 12 transmission towers in North Sumatra collapsed, again with heavy rain and strong winds identified as possible causes.
“These events are a reminder that our electricity system should not only be measured by its ability to deliver reliable and affordable power, but also by how resilient its infrastructure is against unexpected events, including extreme weather,” Deon said.
He noted that climate change is increasing both the frequency and intensity of extreme weather, posing mounting risks to critical infrastructure such as power grids. Global temperatures have already risen by around 1.15 degrees Celsius, nearing the 1.5-degree threshold set under the Paris Agreement.
According to Deon, disaster data from Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) shows a sharp rise in weather-related disasters. Over the last five years, Indonesia recorded around 18,000 incidents related to extreme weather, floods, and landslides—more than double the 7,700 cases recorded between 2011 and 2015.
IESR said these trends highlight the urgent need to improve electricity system planning, operations, and management to withstand climate-related disruptions.
The webinar is part of a broader series by IESR aimed at examining the causes of recent grid failures and exploring strategies to build a more resilient electricity system in Indonesia. (nsh)
Banner photo: Image generated by OpenAI’s DALL·E via ChatGPT (2024)
