Transportation services prepare for electricity blackouts

Transportation sectors in Jakarta and Tangerang, including bus and airport operators, have begun preparing for the scheduled electricity blackouts that will take place from 11-25 July 2008. According to officials belonging to the state power firm, PT PLN, the city will soon run out of gas to fuel its generators, the Tanjung Priok generator and the Muara Karang generator, which are both located in North Jakarta. In both cities, there will be two scheduled blackouts per day, from 0800-1500 local time and from 1500-2200 local time. Each time period will affect different customers. Strategic facilities such as hospitals will not be affected. The TransJakarta bus service has already been affected by the rolling blackouts, which have left stations without lights or functioning ticket machines. As a result, the company will institute paper tickets for the interim period. Officials with Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (WIII/CGK) stated that they have asked the government to not cut power to the facility, as they have two generators that can meet only 30 percent of the facility’s power needs. There has been no response from authorities to this request.