Still, we need to prepare a number of supporting equipment at several strategic locations.
Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - State-owned electricity provider PT PLN (Persero) has made preparations to maintain the reliability of electricity in Papua and West Papua provinces ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays.

"Extreme weather, which has occurred recently, has made us take better preventive actions,” General Manager of PLN’s Papua and West Papua Regional Main Unit, Abdul Farid, said here on Friday

He informed that officers at each Customer Service Implementing Unit (UP3) have been deployed to inspect electricity feeders, sub-stations, and grids, as well as trim branches that are too close to power lines.

“We hope that the community will allow their trees to be cut down if they have the potential to disrupt the power supply,” he said.

Currently, the peak electricity load in the two provinces has reached 327 megawatts (MW), while the generating capacity is pegged at 457 MW, Farid noted.

Hence, the generating capacity provides a power reserve of around 130 MW, which is sufficient to meet public power needs during the holidays, he said.

Still, the company has prepared several supporting equipment at a number of pre-determined locations as an anticipatory measure to ensure electricity supply, he informed.

The equipment comprises 45 uninterruptible power supply (UPS) devices, 67 mobile sub-stations (UGB), and 172 mobile generators, he added.

"Overall, the electricity supply in Papua and West Papua provinces is sufficient. Still, we need to prepare a number of supporting equipment at several strategic locations," Farid emphasized.

The equipment has been deployed at churches and other public places to ensure electricity supply can be safely maintained and people can worship solemnly and smoothly, he remarked.

According to data from the Religious Affairs Ministry, most people in Papua and West Papua provinces are Christians.

Papua, which has a population of 4.3 million, has around 3 million Protestants and 669 thousand Catholics. Meanwhile, West Papua, which has a population of 1.1 million, has around 621 thousand Protestants and 87 thousand Catholics, as per the data.

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Translator: Hendrina Kandipi, Uyu Liman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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