“For Aceh, we emphasize that all substations are now energized. The transmission and generation systems are functioning well,” Darmawan Prasodjo said during a visit to the PLN Kuala Simpang ULP Office in Aceh Tamiang District on Wednesday.
He explained that two main transmission lines previously severed by the disaster - the Arun-Bireuen line and the Pangkalan Brandan-Langsa line - have been reconnected. PLN has also completed the construction of a second transmission line to strengthen Aceh’s power system.
“Last night we successfully completed the second line, significantly improving the condition of Aceh’s electricity system,” he said.
Since the disaster, PLN has been restoring power gradually from village to village. Of approximately 6,500 villages in Aceh, 180 remain without electricity due to network damage and limited access.
“Access routes to those villages are now being built. Power poles are being re-erected and networks restored, so we are seeing steady improvements day by day, with the number of villages without power continuing to decline,” he said.
Beyond power restoration, Darmawan noted that PLN personnel have also taken part in humanitarian efforts as volunteers in affected areas. They have assisted with electrical repairs and the cleanup of public service facilities.
“We have also worked to restore electrical installations at 15 mosques and helped clean them,” he said.
Darmawan expressed appreciation for President Prabowo Subianto’s guidance, noting that from the outset the president instructed PLN to deploy teams directly to the field to accelerate post-disaster recovery.
Previously, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said that his administration had sent 1,000 generators and 3,000 cooking stoves to assist disaster victims across Sumatra. The aid was transported using Hercules aircraft.
Bahlil noted that the 1,000 generators constitute the first batch and that additional units will be sent as needed. He added that the ministry is coordinating with Pertamina to ensure adequate fuel supplies for operating the generators.
Meanwhile, according to data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), as of Sunday, December 21, 2025, floods and landslides had killed 1,090 people, left 186 missing, and affected millions across 52 districts and cities in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
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Translator: Rahmat Fajri, Primayanti
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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