ASEANEWS HEADLINE-BUSINESS ECONOMY | El Niño dries up hydropower lifeline in South Sulawesi
Residents fish at Lake Sibili, where water levels have receded in Palu, Central Sulawesi, on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (Antara/Muhammad Rifki Hasan)
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PLN detailed that the aggregate generation capacity of the hydroelectric plants fell from approximately 850 megawatts (MW) to 250 MW.
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E nergy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia revealed that an El Niño-induced dry season had severely depleted water levels at the hydroelectric power plants that supply South Sulawesi province.
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The lower water levels have reduced generating capacity, causing power supply shortfalls.
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“El Niño has caused water levels to decline, directly reducing the generating capacity of hydropower plants,” Bahlil said after a hearing with House Commission XII on Wednesday, as quoted by Detik.
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He added that he would soon coordinate with state-owned electricity company PLN to address the issue.
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“South Sulawesi relies on several hydroelectric power plants.
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Because of El Niño, water availability and therefore generation capacity, have diminished.”
Parched: A resident pushes his bicycle carrying containers filled with potable water along a dried-up rice field in Lamongan, East Java, on Oct. 30, 2014. Droughts are a common challenge for farmers in Indonesia.(AFP/Juni Kriswanto)
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PLN president director Darmawan Prasodjo explained on Tuesday that the South Sulawesi electricity system has recently faced strain because of the declining generation capacity of several hydroelectric plants.
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Hydrological conditions influenced by the El Niño phenomenon have caused a drop in output from the Poso, Bakaru and Malea hydroelectric plants, as well as several mini-hydro power plants, as reported by Bisnis.
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Divya Karyza
The Jakarta Post- PREMIUM
Jakarta
Thu, September 17, 2026
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