The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is drafting a policy to provide temporary electricity discounts in the flood- and landslide-affected provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra.
“The ministry will provide a discount, but we are still calculating the duration and the fiscal impact,” Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia told reporters at a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday.
The planned relief, he said, is a response to formal requests submitted by regional leaders from the affected provinces, who have urged the central government to ease the financial burden on residents.
Lahadalia added that the proposal would be reported to President Prabowo Subianto before it is implemented.
“The president has instructed us to remain attentive to the difficulties faced by the people,” he said.
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On infrastructure repairs, Lahadalia said electricity restoration work is still under way in around 150 villages where damage remains extensive.
“We have deployed 1,000 generators, as some low-voltage ground infrastructure has not yet been fully repaired,” he said.
He added that services across the energy and mineral resources sector have gradually improved in disaster-hit areas, including the supply of fuel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
The ministry has so far distributed 1,000 generator units with capacities ranging from about 5,000 to 7,000 volt-amperes to 224 villages in Aceh and other affected areas that experienced prolonged power outages, along with additional electrical equipment.
Devastating floods and landslides struck the three Sumatran provinces in late November 2025 after days of intense rainfall, inundating settlements and cutting off access to remote communities.
According to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), as of Thursday, January 8, the disasters have killed 1,179 people and displaced about 237,900 others.
Aceh has been the worst-hit province, recording 543 deaths and around 214,100 displaced residents, underscoring the scale of the humanitarian and infrastructure challenges still facing the region.
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Translator: Putu Indah, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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