August 19, 2026 | 08:27 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's state-owned electricity company, PLN, has successfully restored the electricity system in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake. By 17:40 WITA (Central Indonesian Time) on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, all previously affected customers had regained their electricity supply.
F. Eko Sulistyono, General Manager of PLN’s East Nusa Tenggara Regional Unit, explained that the restoration process was carried out in stages by deploying personnel, materials, and equipment to various affected locations.
"Immediately after the earthquake struck, we assessed the condition of the grid across all affected areas. We deployed 1,144 personnel to carry out safety measures, repairs, and a phased restoration of service," Eko said in a written statement on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
He noted that the restoration process faced several challenges in the field, such as access issues to certain locations caused by the earthquake's impact.
"Technicians had to inspect points individually before the grid could be fully restored. In some locations, the condition of access routes and infrastructure posed specific challenges. We continued to mobilize personnel, materials, and equipment to ensure every location could be addressed quickly while prioritizing safety," he explained.
Eko added that even after the Flores electricity system was 100 percent restored, PLN kept personnel on standby to monitor grid conditions and anticipate potential follow-up disruptions.
PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo stated that the successful restoration of the Flores electricity system was part of PLN's commitment to remaining present for the community, especially in post-disaster situations.
"Thank God, we were able to complete the restoration of the electricity system in Flores. From the moment the earthquake struck, the PLN team took immediate action, working day and night to visit each affected location. It was not easy, but we shared a single spirit: ensuring electricity returned to normal so that the community could quickly resume their activities," said Darmawan. Darmawan noted that the recovery process was made possible through the support of various parties who assisted PLN in managing the post-disaster situation.
Darmawan expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) for their support and coordination during the recovery process. He also extended his appreciation to local governments, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the military (TNI), the police (Polri), and the community members who assisted in the field.
"Some helped clear access routes, provided information on regional conditions, and supported our personnel during the recovery work. It is this spirit of mutual cooperation (*gotong royong*) that enables us to overcome difficult situations together," said Darmawan.
Darmawan added that the full restoration of the electricity system supports the recovery of community activities and the tourism sector in Labuan Bajo.
"Restoring electricity in Labuan Bajo is part of PLN's support for the continuity of economic and tourism activities in this Super-Priority Tourism Destination (DPSP). We want to ensure that electricity continues to support Labuan Bajo as a key gateway for tourism in Eastern Indonesia," Darmawan continued.
The Governor of East Nusa Tenggara, Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, expressed his appreciation to PLN for its swift response in restoring the electricity system following the earthquake in the Flores Sea.
"On behalf of the government and the people of East Nusa Tenggara Province, I extend my thanks to PLN—including the Board of Directors at headquarters, the General Managers in NTT and specifically the Flores region, and all the field teams. They have done an extraordinary job from day one until now to restore electricity in Flores and the surrounding islands so that the community can once again rely on a stable power supply," said Melki.
Read: PLN Restores Electricity for 88% of Customers After Flores Earthquake
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