Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa (right), State Enterprises Minister Mustafa Abubakar (2nd left), Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Darwin Saleh (2nd right), state-owned electricity firm PLN`s Director Fahmi Mochtar (left) discuss electricity problems after attending the meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Presidential palace in Jakarta (11/17). (ANTARA/Widodo S. Jusuf)

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Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono summoned a number of ministers on Tuesday to discuss electricity problems the country has been experiencing of late.

The president opened the meeting at 11 am and it was among others attended by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, State Enterprises Minister Mustafa Abubakar, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Darwin Saleh, state-owned electricity firm PLN`s Director Fahmi Mochtar and Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo.

Before attending the meeting Hatta Radjasa said that the president would listen to explanations from the relevant ministers and from the PLN director on complaints from industries and citizens about frequent power outages.

Hatta said the government was trying to formulate ways to find a comprehensive solution to the electricity problems. The solution would have to be for the short, medium and long terms.

He said with electricity consumption growing at six to eight percent or 2,000 - 3,000 MW per annum, it was impossible for PLN to cover the entire shortage in power supplies.

"Therefore, we have encouraged independent power producers (IPP) to enter the electricity sector. But of the 50 existing IPPs, only about 20 percent can do it. Even so, the 20 percent are now also facing financial problems," he said.

In the meantime, Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo said many of the complaints about power cuts in Jakarta came from small and medium scale industries who did not own generators.

"We have asked PLN to speed up finding a solution to the power problem. Now, a number of small and medium scale industries who have no generators, have stopped their businesses due to the power outages," the governor said.

The governor said the electricity blackouts were also often causing chaos in the streets of the capital because unoperating traffic lights always resulted in chaotic traffic jams.(*)

Editor: Heru

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