Heaptalk, Jakarta — Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia, accompanied by PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo, inspected the Electric Vehicle Charging Station (SPKLU) at the Batang KM 379A Rest Area, Central Java, on Thursday (20/3). The visit aimed to ensure the reliability of EV infrastructure ahead of the 2024 Eid al-Fitr homecoming season.
Bahlil assured that SPKLU facilities in Central Java and Yogyakarta (DIY)—key mudik routes—are fully operational, eliminating concerns for EV users traveling during the holiday.
“We are verifying PLN’s preparations for the Eid exodus. In Central Java and DIY alone, there are 307 SPKLU units available. I assure the public using EVs for mudik that charging stations are accessible approximately every 20 kilometers from Jakarta or Surabaya,” Bahlil stated.
PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo highlighted that the company has significantly expanded SPKLU availability in high-traffic areas, increasing the number of stations in Central Java and DIY by sixfold compared to last year’s Eid season. Currently, 307 SPKLU units are operational across 215 locations, supported by 1,720 personnel on 24-hour standby.
“At this rest area (Batang), we confirmed that queues are well-managed. With EV usage expected to surge fivefold, we’ve scaled up SPKLU capacity accordingly,” Darmawan explained.
Nationally, PLN and its partners have deployed 1,000 SPKLU units across 615 locations along the Trans-Sumatra and Java mudik routes. Currently, Indonesia has 3,558 SPKLU units spread over 2,412 strategic points.
Robust Electricity Supply and Emergency Preparedness
Darmawan confirmed that Central Java and DIY’s power systems remain stable, with a 7.95 GW capacity against a projected peak load of 5.02 GW, leaving a 2.93 GW reserve margin (58%).
“PLN guarantees secure electricity infrastructure throughout Eid. We’ve conducted thorough checks, from primary energy supply to generators, transmission, distribution, and personnel readiness,” he added.
To further secure power supply and SPKLU services, PLN has mobilized 4,081 personnel equipped with:
- 97 generator sets
- 158 mobile substations
- 43 UPS units
- 316 service vehicles
- 439 motorcycles
- 75 mobile cables
- 74 cranes
Additionally, four mobile SPKLU units (out of 12 along Trans-Sumatra-Java routes) are on standby to assist EV users facing technical issues. Emergency support can be accessed via the PLN Mobile app or call center 123.
“We hope this year’s EV mudik proceeds smoothly. As verified by Minister Bahlil, Central Java’s power system is in optimal condition,” Darmawan concluded.
