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PLN Gradually Recovers Electricity Supply (0)
State-owned electricity firm PT PLN has recovered electric power to Balaraja Extra High Voltage substation in Banten Province, and furthermore it will be channeled to Suralaya steam-fueled power plant (PLTU) to gradually recover its operation to reach its capacity of 2800 MW of electricity.
In addition, power supply from Gandul Extra High Voltage substations in Depok, West Java Province, will be channeled to Muara Karang gas and steam power plant (PLTGU) to supply electricity to the Indonesian capital city, Jakarta.
Acting President Director of PLN Sripeni Inten Cahyani said here on Sunday that the power supply to Jakarta was expected to recover within three hours.
"We apologize for the inconvenience today, and currently all efforts have been made to recover the Java-Bali power system, especially in the area of West Java, Banten, and Jakarta," Cahyani said.
The company has focused on power supply to PLTGU Muara Karang and PLTGU Priok to recover the system in the capital city.
Previously, PLN has recovered the operation of hydro-generated power plant (PLTA) Saguling and PLTA Cirata which are functioned as power stabilizer, and, at the same time, supply the electricity to PLTU Suralaya through Cibinong, Depok, Gandul, Lengkok, Balaraja and Suralaya extra high voltage substations.
PLTU Suralaya is expected to return to its normal operation within six hours to normalize power system in West Java and Banten.
Blackout that affected thousands of homes and public facilities in West Java, Jakarta, and Banten was caused by several troubles in the extra high voltage 500 kV transmission of Ungaran - Pemalang.
"PLN has taken its best efforts and will have evaluation to prevent recurrence of today's incident," Cahyani said.
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March
Indonesia's COVID-19 recoveries reach 1.1 million
Written by Nur Yasmin
Mar. 4 - With 9,053 Indonesians recovering from the coronavirus infection in a single day, the country's total COVID-19 recovery count reached 1,169,916 as of Wednesday, according to the Task Force for COVID-19 Handling.
Meanwhile, Indonesia added 6,808 fresh cases on Wednesday, pushing the total case tally to 1,353,834. With 203 deaths reported in 24 hours, the total death toll touched 36,721.
According to the task force, the number of COVID-19 active cases, or patients under treatment, reached 147,197.
Jakarta recorded the highest number of recoveries at 2,445, followed by West Java (2.233), Central Java (1,324), East Java (514), and East Kalimantan (459).
Jakarta also led in the cumulative COVID-19 case count at 343,807, followed by West Java (216,423), Central Java (155,217), East Java (130,642), and South Sulawesi (56,780).
Jakarta also recorded the highest tally of recoveries at 330,949, followed by West Java (178,213), East Java (118,207), Central Java (108,110), and South Sulawesi (52,364). (Antaranews)
March
Mar. 4 - Mount Merapi, which straddles Central Java and Yogyakarta provinces, emitted lava 12 times between midnight and 6 p.m. local time on Wednesday, according to the Geological Disaster Research and Technology Development Center (BPPTKG).
The first eight lava ejections were recorded between midnight and 6 a.m., with a maximum sliding distance of 1,500 meters in the southwesterly direction, BPPTKG chief Hanik Humaida said in a written statement issued on Wednesday.
The last four lava ejections were monitored between 6 a.m. and noon, with a maximum sliding distance of 800 meters, also in the southwesterly direction.
No lava flow was recorded between noon and 6 p.m.
According to the latest earthquake data, 20 earthquake avalanches were recorded, with an amplitude of 4 mm to 36 mm and a duration of 11-121 seconds.
On Wednesday, the BPPTKG retained the volcano’s alert status at Level III.
The lava and hot clouds ejected by the volcano were projected to affect areas located south and southwest of the volcano, including Kuning, Boyong, Bedog, Krasak, Bebeng, and Putih. (Antaranews)
March
No breakthrough on Myanmar crisis at Southeast Asian summit
Written by Nur Yasmin
Mar. 3 - A summit of Southeast Asian states held on Tuesday to discuss the coup in Myanmar failed to find a breakthrough to get the nation back on the path to democracy after last month’s military takeover, sources with knowledge of the meeting said.
Speaking after foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ended their virtual meeting, Indonesia’s chief envoy Retno Marsudi urged the junta to allow the bloc to resolve escalating tensions.
“It takes two to tango,” she said after the meeting. “ASEAN’s good intentions and readiness will be meaningless if Myanmar does not open its door.”
ASEAN - which is made up of democracies, communist states, authoritarian regimes and an absolute monarchy - did not forge a common position during the meeting, two ASEAN diplomatic sources said.
A statement from the meeting’s chair, Brunei, on the outcome of the meeting, said ASEAN expressed concern about the situation in Myanmar and called on “all parties to refrain from instigating further violence”.
“We expressed ASEAN’s readiness to assist Myanmar in a positive, peaceful and constructive manner,” it said.
In a statement of remarks made during the summit, Singapore’s foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan warned an inability to find a common ASEAN position “would starkly underscore our lack of unity, and undermine our credibility and relevance as an organisation”.
The use of lethal force against unarmed civilians was “inexcusable”, he said.
Retno, Balakrishnan and the foreign ministers of Malaysia and the Philippines called for the release of political detainees including civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a position that was not endorsed by all at the summit.
The “informal” meeting was the first involving the 10-nation group since the coup and included Myanmar’s military appointed foreign minister, Wunna Maung Lwin.
Retno, the foreign minister of the region’s most populous country and the world’s third-biggest democracy, has been leading ASEAN diplomacy efforts and hardened her language against the coup.
“Restoring democracy back on track must be pursued,” she said. “Indonesia underlines that the will, the interest and the voices of the people of Myanmar must be respected.”
The United Nations, the United States, China and the European Union have all urged ASEAN to play a role in mediating the crisis in Myanmar, where at least 21 people have been killed as security forces tried to quash mass protests.
The chair’s statement said the grouping looked forward to a special ASEAN-United States meeting of foreign ministers “in the near future”.
Among recommendations made at the meeting, Retno said an ASEAN taskforce could provide humanitarian assistance in Myanmar.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s chief diplomat Hishammuddin Hussein proposed that an ASEAN expert group could look into alleged discrepancies found in the November’s election won in a landslide by Suu Kyi.
The military seized power after claiming the election was riddled with fraud, despite independent monitors saying it reflected the will of the people.
Both the Singaporean and Malaysian foreign ministers noted that ASEAN had stood by Myanmar in the past when it was previously globally isolated under military rule. (Reuters)
March
Indonesia's Mount Sinabung volcano spews ash into sky
Written by Nur Yasmin
Mar. 3 - Indonesia’s Mount Sinabung volcano sent a cloud of hot ash as high as 5 km (3.1 miles) on Tuesday, in its first big eruption since August last year, the country’s volcanology centre said.
Mount Sinabung’s activity has increased since last year and the alert for the volcano in North Sumatra province has been placed at the second-highest level.
No casualties were reported, but an official had earlier urged people to stay at least 3 km from the crater, Indonesia’s Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Centre said.
Videos on social media showed little panic among residents over the eruption, which sent a column of white ash into the blue sky.
Wirda Br Sitepu, a 20-year-old resident, told Reuters that the situation had calmed and said “the mountain is not erupting, and the ash has decreased.”
Indonesia straddles the so-called “Pacific Ring of Fire”, a highly seismically active zone, where different plates on the earth’s crust meet and create a large number of earthquakes and volcanoes.
Indonesia has nearly 130 active volcanoes, more than any other country.
Sinabung had been inactive for centuries before it erupted again in 2010. (Reuters)
March
Fifth batch of Sinovac vaccine arrives in Indonesia
Written by Nur Yasmin
Mar. 3 - Vice Health Minister Dante Saksono said Indonesia has received the fifth batch of COVID-19 vaccines from China's Sinovac Biotech.
"Alhamdulillah (thank God), today we got 10 million (doses of the) bulk vaccine. This bulk vaccine is raw material that Bio Farma will turn into (ready-to-use) vaccines," he said at an online press briefing in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The first and second batches of the vaccine received from Sinovac comprised 1.2 million and 1.8 million doses of ready-to-use vaccines, respectively, while the third and fourth batches comprised 15 million and 10 million doses of semi-finished vaccines, respectively.
Indonesia has received 38 million vaccine doses from the Chinese biopharmaceutical firm since the time the first batch arrived in the country on December 6 last year.
The government plans to use the vaccines to support a mass free vaccination program targeting 181.5 million of the country’s total population of 267 million.
"Another 185 million (doses of the) vaccine from Sinovac will be delivered in stages," Saksono informed.
Bio Farma, which has secured a certificate of good drug production from the Food and Drug Control Agency (BPOM), will process the bulk Sinovac vaccines to make finished vaccines.
Indonesia has ordered COVID-19 vaccines from several sources: 125 million doses from China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd; 100 million doses from US-Canada's Novavax; 100 million doses from UK’s AstraZeneca; 100 million doses from Germany-US' Pfizer; and, 16-100 million doses of free vaccines from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) through multilateral cooperation. (Antaranews)
March
Papua plans to review govt's investment permit for liquor industry
Written by Nur Yasmin
Mar. 2 - The Papua provincial administration hinted on Monday that it would review the Indonesian government's decision to open investment in the liquor industry in the province.
The implementation of the Presidential Regulation (No.10/2021) would be adjusted to Papua's conditions, the Papua provincial government's secretary, Doren Wakerkwa, said.
"We have had special regional regulation No.13/2015 so the presidential regulation will be adjusted to the characteristics of respective regions," he told journalists here.
Papua Governor Lukas Enembe's directives have revealed that it is better for the province to be free from liquor for the sake of ensuring secure and comfortable lives for its people, he said.
Hence, the proposal for opening investment in the liquor industry in Papua would be adjusted as per the provincial government's authority, he added.
President Joko Widodo signed the Presidential Regulation (No.10/2021) on Investment on February 2, 2021, opening up investment in the alcoholic beverages industry in the provinces of Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, North Sulawesi, and Papua.
Filep Wamafma, a member of the Regional Representatives' Council (DPD) who represents West Papua's electoral area, made an earnest request to President Widodo to revoke the investment permit.
"We appeal to Mr. President to revoke the government's investment permit for the alcoholic beverages industry in Papua," he stated in a press statement issued on Saturday.
He warned of a spike in crime rate following liquor intake in the country's easternmost province.
The presidential regulation has been issued as a follow-up to the job creation law passed by the House of Representatives (DPR) last year.
"Referring to the presidential regulation, the liquor industry may obtain investment from both foreign and domestic investors," Wamafma stated.
Investment in the liquor industry could also come from cooperative units and small and medium enterprises, he remarked.
ANTARA has earlier reported on how alcohol consumption remains a grave problem in Papua in spite of a ban on the production, distribution, and sale of liquor in the province since 2016.
The consumption of alcoholic beverages is believed to have contributed to the shortened life expectancy of native Papuans. (Antaranews)
March
Tourist arrivals in Jakarta plunge 94% in one month
Written by Nur Yasmin
Mar. 2 - The number of foreign tourists visiting Jakarta dived 94.3 percent to 1,244 in January, 2021 from 21,858 in December, 2020, chief of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) Office in Jakarta, Buyung Airlangga, said.
“Compared to the same month last year, the number of tourist arrivals in January, 2021 also plummeted 99.28 percent,” he said during an online press conference on Monday.
South Korea (90) led in the number of tourist arrivals in January, 2021, followed by Saudi Arabia (66), China (61), the United States (52) and Japan (44).
The top five sources of tourist arrivals in Jakarta also changed compared to the previous month.
In January, 2021, South Korea overtook China, which has regularly dominated tourist arrivals in the capital.
Saudi Arabia replaced Russia as the second biggest source of tourist arrivals.
The US remained in the fourth place, while Japan replaced Ukraine to take the fifth spot. (Antaranews)
March
Indonesian soldiers offer mobile health services to villagers in Papua
Written by Nur Yasmin
Mar. 2 - Indonesian soldiers stationed at Skamto security post, which is located near the border with Papua New Guinea, provided mobile health services in Yowong village, Arso Barat sub-district, Keerom district, Papua province on Sunday.
Personnel from the Indonesia-PNG Border Security Task Force visited villagers' homes and provided treatment to those in need of medical services, the task force's commanding officer, Major Anggun Wuriyanto, said in a statement issued here on Monday.
The soldiers who took part in the community service belonged to the Mechanic Raider 413/Bremoro Infantry Battalion of the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Konstrad).
The mobile health services, which were provided several days prior to the end of their deployment at the Skamto security post, were part of borderless community services for villagers, Wuriyanto said.
"We continue doing our best to serve the residents in our endeavor to make Papua healthy and prosperous," he added.
The healthcare services were not only offered to native Papuans in Keerom, but also in other areas.
Last week, several personnel from the 756/WMS Infantry Battalion's security task force had offered mobile health services to residents of Beanekogom village, Tembagapura sub-district, Mimika district.
According to the task force's commander, Major Marolop Edison Bala Hutapea, such health services are being provided routinely as part of the task force's community services to ensure that locals remain in good health.
"The TNI (the Indonesian Military) is mindful of the difficulties faced by the residents," he remarked, adding that he has constantly reminded soldiers stationed at all security posts to maintain an emotional connect with locals.
Sincerity in conducting community services and tending to the needs of local communities would make the TNI security posts useful to them, according to Hutapea.
Tsinga security post's commanding officer, Second Lieutenant Riyanto, who led the provision of mobile health services in Beanekogom village, revealed that the task force's medical team tended to villagers ailing from minor illnesses and looking for medical consultation.
A villager, Abdon Nenotek, expressed his gratitude to the task force and commended the members for offering the mobile health services to him and other villagers and for edifying them on ways to lead a healthy life and maintain cleanliness in the village. (Antaranews)
March
Police arrests resident on charge of igniting fire on 5 ha of land
Written by Nur Yasmin
Mar. 1 - West Kalimantan Police have arrested a resident of Kubu Raya District on charge of igniting land fire in Bansir Laut Village of Pontianak, West Kalimantan.
"The suspect was arrested on Saturday (Feb 27) not far from his land and is detained at West Kalimantan Police headquarters for further legal process," an official of the West Kalimantan Police' special crime unit Adjunct Senior Commissioner Sardo Mangatur Pardamean Sibarani said in a statement here on Sunday.
The suspect identified by his initials as SB (41) allegedly burned his land to clear it for farming on February 22 but the fire spread uncontrollably to the neighboring land.
"After setting fire to his 10 x 20 meter land, the suspect left his land and the fire spread to other farmers' land. The fire consumed some five hectares of land," Sardo said.
SB wrapped an inner tube on a stick and ignited the fire. He added some woods to the fire and left the land.
Unfortunately, the fire has spread uncontrollably to other farmers' land in the village.
The police has questioned SB in the investigation of the case.
Pontianak administration has declared state of alert of land and forest fire after haze started to cover some parts of the city in the last week of February due to land fire.
Pontianak Mayor Edi Rusdi Kamtono said his administration has established a task force of land and forest fire prevention in the city.
"The team has involved various parties including the military and police, Pontianak municipality administration, and the public including private fire fighters," he said. (Antaranews)
March
Vaccination in mutual cooperation must be free of charge: Minister
Written by Nur Yasmin
Mar. 1 - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin reiterated that COVID-19 vaccination in mutual cooperation by companies should be provided free of charge for employees and their family members.
"It should be given for free. The mutual cooperation vaccine would be provided by companies, they will seek the vaccine, and it should be free for all employees and their family members," Sadikin said in a virtual press conference here on Sunday.
The vaccination in mutual cooperation is stipulated in article 7 of the Health Minister Regulation no. 10/2021 on vaccination to handle COVID-19 pandemic.
The type of COVID-19 vaccine used in the vaccination must be different from those used in the government's vaccination program to avoid any disturbance in national vaccine distribution.
It should be approved by the National Food and Drug Control (BPOM) with the issuance of emergency use authorization (EUA) and distribution license number.
The Health Ministry has set four COVID-19 vaccines to be used in its massive vaccination program namely Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, dan Novavac. The four vaccine have arrived in Indonesia.
"The vaccine (used in mutual cooperation vaccination) cannot be the same hence there is no competition in supply. We should ensure that (companies) would get the supply of vaccine other than the four vaccine used by the government in its program," the minister elaborated.
The implementation of vaccinations in mutual cooperation by companies is part of the efforts to expedite the implementation of immunization for more than 181 million Indonesians, to complete in 12 months from its previous target of completion in 15 months.
Innovation and collaboration between the government, private sector and the public would help accelerating the vaccination. One of the innovation in vaccination program is drive thru vaccination in Nusa Dua, Bali, he said.
"The more people participate in the program, the faster we can reach herd immunity. Indonesia has a remarkable social capital. This time we fight against the pandemic. Together we can get through this," he said. (Antaranews)