Business · Energy & Commodities · 2 hrs ago
PLN traces Batam-Bintan blackout to transformer fault
A transformer fault triggered a widespread blackout in Batam and Bintan, Indonesian islands in the Riau Islands province.
PLN Batam said an electrical arc at the Sei Harapan substation spread to the main transmission system after a circuit breaker failed to isolate it.
The loss of power from a 220-megawatt plant led other generators to disconnect, worsening the outage.
Power has since been restored to customers in both areas, after PLN rebuilt the system in stages.
PLN Batam says a wild animal may have triggered the initial fault, but that possibility still needs proof; it also reported that a safety fence was inactive and a CCTV camera had changed direction before the outage.
PLN’s chief says sabotage was not the cause, while the company has left questions beyond technical matters to the authorities.
Compensation will depend on service-quality rules, and PLN says it will continue reviewing system protections, power plants and transmission and distribution networks.
PLN Batam said a transformer fault at the Sei Harapan substation triggered the widespread blackout in Batam and Bintan.
A circuit breaker failed to isolate the fault, allowing it to spread to the main 150-kilovolt transmission system.
The outage began at 06:37 WIB after about 220 megawatts of generating capacity at Tanjung Uncang disconnected.
Power was restored to almost all Batam customers by Tuesday, 13 October, and fully restored in Bintan on Wednesday, 14 October.
PLN said a suspected wild animal may have triggered the fault, but that possibility still needs to be proven.
- Who
- PLN Batam, led by president director Kwin Fo, explained the outage. Batam and Bintan electricity customers were affected.
- What
- A transformer flashover at the Sei Harapan substation led to a widespread power outage.
- When
- The outage began at 06:37 WIB; the sources do not state its date.
- Where
- Batam and Bintan, in Indonesia’s Riau Islands.
- Why
- The circuit breaker did not isolate a transformer fault, which spread to the main transmission system. A wild animal is a suspected trigger, pending further proof.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
CCTV changed direction and no longer pointed at the transformer that later experienced a fault.
The widespread blackout began after the fault caused generating units to disconnect from the system.
About 60% of Batam customers had regained electricity.
Almost all Batam customers had power again, while restoration of some generating units continued.
Electricity supply to Bintan was fully restored.
- Fault location
- Transformer at Sei Harapan substation
- Transmission system
- 150 kilovolts
- Generation disconnected
- About 220 megawatts at Tanjung Uncang
- Batam restoration
- Almost all customers restored by 13 October 2026, 01:00 WIB
- Bintan restoration
- 14 October 2026, 18:30 WIB
3 sources
What people are saying
The fault began with a flashover, or electrical arc, on a transformer at the Sei Harapan substation.
The restoration to Bintan was based purely on technical considerations, not differences in service priorities.
I don't think it was sabotage; it is still being examined further, but what is clear is that it has been resolved.