"I again visit Palu and Donggala to ensure that BUMN play a role in the recovery of Central Sulawesi in the aftermath of the natural disasters," Minister Soemarno noted while visiting the office of state electricity company PLN here, Wednesday.
BUMN, as a development agent and supporter of the national economic growth, must always be present in whatever situation, she noted.
"Since the earthquake struck, the daily activities of the public were disrupted. Last week, I came here twice. I come back again to personally see the progress and ensure that public activities have returned to normal," she added.
The minister arrived in Palu on Tuesday evening (Oct 9) and decided to stay overnight at the Palu PLN office along with hundreds of pioneers and technicians.
On Wednesday morning, she led a roll-call ceremony and greeted some 1,500 PLN technicians from across the country that were deployed to restore power supply in Palu, Donggala, and Sigi affected by the natural disasters.
"Alhamdulillah (Thank God), electricity supply in Palu has reached nearly 90 percent, thanks to the hard work of PLN technicians and pioneers. Thanks to the hard work of the technicians, all economic activities resume quickly," the minister remarked.
She expressed hope that in the near future, all services of other state enterprises -- oil and gas company PT Pertamina, state-owned banks including BNI and BRI, as well as telecommunication companies comprising TelkomGroup -- would also resume completely.
Earlier, at 6 a.m. local time, the minister visited the Masomba traditional market and witnessed that trading activities had resumed back to normal.
From Palu, the minister will visit Sigi to observe the latest condition there.
Reporting by Royke Sinaga
Editing by Fardah
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
