Indonesia replaces PLN chief after major Batam power outage

The leadership change at Indonesia's state-owned power utility comes in response to the significant outage that disrupted operations across Batam, a major manufacturing and industrial hub in Riau Islands province. The extended blackout highlighted concerns about the reliability of the country's electricity infrastructure and prompted swift action from PLN's board.

Prasodjo's tenure as CEO lasted approximately two years before his replacement was announced. The decision reflects the pressure facing PLN to maintain stable power supply across Indonesia's key economic zones, particularly in areas critical to the nation's industrial output and export competitiveness.

Suroso Isnanda assumes leadership of one of Southeast Asia's largest power utilities at a time when Indonesia faces mounting demands to upgrade its electricity network to support growing economic activity and renewable energy integration. PLN serves millions of customers across the archipelago and plays a central role in the country's energy security strategy.

The blackout in Batam, which supplies power to numerous electronics manufacturers and petrochemical facilities, underscored the operational challenges facing Indonesia's electricity sector. Industry observers note that leadership transitions often signal efforts to implement operational improvements and strengthen infrastructure resilience.