The results of the preliminary investigation into the causal factors behind Sunday's power outage will be publicly announced next Thursday.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - A joint investigation team will declare the results of its preliminary investigation into Sunday's major blackout that affected certain parts of Java Island, including Jakarta and West Java, next week, a police spokesman stated.

"The results of the preliminary investigation into the causal factors behind Sunday's power outage will be announced to the public on next Thursday," National Police Spokesman Brig. Gen Dedi Prasetyo stated here on Thursday.

This team's members had conducted a thorough probe into the factors causing the major blackout that disrupted Jakarta's commuter line and MRT systems as well as the businesses of shopping malls and small and medium enterprises in various affected areas.

Within two weeks from now, they would reveal the comprehensive and final results of their investigation following the completion of ground checks at the electricity power plants in Ungaran, Central Java, West Java, and Jakarta, Prasetyo noted.

Formed by the National Police, this joint team was given two weeks to uncover the case. Its members comprise police investigators and experts representing related ministries and agencies as well as universities, he remarked.

Sunday's major blackout that hit the areas of Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Central Java, and East Java has been nothing short of a nightmarish experience for scores of Indonesians and foreign travelers.

On that day, power outage disrupted the Indonesian capital city's commuter line and MRT services, majorly hindering the people's mobility.

This Sunday's major blackout also affected the business activities of several small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that were not equipped with generators to supply electricity.

Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, spokesman of the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party leader Prabowo Subianto, expressed concern over the impact of this major power outage on SMEs' businesses.

"The SMEs, including 'Begawan Kupie', may have suffered significant losses as a result of this longer blackout. I believe that many other SMEs in Java also suffer losses," he noted on his Twitter account.

State-owned electricity firm PT PLN (Persero) has extended its apology over Sunday's major blackout. PLN claimed that it was caused by the trips on the Suralaya Turbine Gas from number 1 to 6, while its turbine gas number 7 was off.

Simultaneously, the Cilegon Gas Turbine Combined-Cycle (GTCC) Power Plant also experienced a trip or error. As a result, the power outage hit residents living in Jakarta's greater areas.

The major blackout also hit those residing in West Java Province's areas due to troubles experienced in the 500 kV Ultrahigh Voltage Transmission. The affected areas comprise Bandung, Bekasi, Cianjur, Cimahi, Cirebon, Garut, Karawang, Purwakarta, Majalaya, Sumedang, Tasikmalaya, Depok, Gunung Putri, Sukabumi, and Bogor.
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Translator: Anita PD, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
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