Jakarta – The government continues to strengthen supervision of the finances of PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) in order to prevent corrupt practices that harm the state.
Currently, the Corruption Eradication Corps (Kortastipidkor) of the National Police is investigating allegations of corruption involving PLN.
Deputy Chief of Kortastipidkor Polri, Brigadier General Arief Adiharsa, confirmed that the investigation of this case is still in the initial investigation stage.
“Still in the investigation stage,” he said.
A number of PLN Central officials were questioned on February 3, 2025 regarding the Steam Power Plant (PLTU) project in West Kalimantan which has been abandoned since 2016, resulting in state losses of up to IDR 1.2 trillion.
Not only the West Kalimantan PLTU case, Kortastipidkor Polri is also investigating two other cases related to PLN. However, Arief was not willing to provide further details.
“I can’t confirm it now,” he added.
In the case of the West Kalimantan PLTU, the project began with an auction process in 2008, where the KSO BRN consortium won the tender even though it did not meet the administrative and technical requirements.
The contract for this project was worth USD 80 million and IDR 507 billion, signed in 2009 by the President Director of PT BRN, RR, and the President Director of PLN at that time, FM. This project was then transferred to another company from China, but still failed to be realized.
Meanwhile, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has also opened an investigation into alleged corruption in the sootblowing system retrofit project at the Bukit Asam PLTU, which took place from 2017 to 2022.
KPK spokesman Ali Fikri revealed that there was engineering in the procurement of spare part components that caused state losses of up to billions of rupiah.
“There was manipulation of the budget value and the auction winner which harmed state finances,” he said.
Ali ensured that the KPK had sufficient evidence to escalate this case to the investigation stage. Three people have been named as suspects, namely General Manager of PT PLN Bambang Anggono, Engineering Manager of PT PLN Budi Widi Asmoro, and Director of PT Truba Engineering Indonesia Nehemia Indrajaya.
Responding to these cases, the Spokesperson for the Islamic Youth Movement (GPI), Bung Hayum, emphasized the importance of transparency in the legal process.
“Don’t let the public conclude that Indonesia is dark just because this case is being handled behind closed doors,” he said.
On the other hand, the Red and White Community Coalition considers that eradicating corruption at PLN is part of an effort to realize the Asta Cita vision, including strengthening the economy and national energy independence. []
