Night When the Hills Move
At 3:11 a.m., heavy rain hit the hilly area in West Bandung Regency, one of the locations of the 150 kV transmission project owned by PT Listrik Bumi Andala (LBA) which is connecting the PLTS and PLTB systems in West Java.
At the temporary substation, Fauzan Lazuardi, Transmission Team Leader, was monitoring load movement and network conditions. Rainfall that night had reached 180 mm—an extreme level. Retaining walls had been installed on some of the hillsides, but the water-saturated soil made everything unstable.
Suddenly, the tilt sensor on Tower 17 sent out an alarm:
“Foundation Movement Detected – Level 3”
Fauzan immediately contacted the field patrol team, but the signal was unstable due to the storm.
Five minutes later, CCTV showed blurry footage—Tower 17 tilted.
Then a long roar was heard.
DUUARRRRR!!!
The entire tower’s foundations were swept away by a landslide that slid down a 60-meter cliff. Tower 17 collapsed, crushing Tower 18, triggering a domino effect that damaged the other three towers.
The transmission part stopped completely.
120 MW of energy from PLTS and PLTB cannot enter the PLN network.
In one night, the risks of nature defeated hundreds of tons of steel frames.
EBT Transmission—A Vulnerable Backbone
Electricity transmission for new and renewable energy (EBT) projects differs from conventional transmission. Most solar and wind power projects are located:
- in the mountains,
- in the valley area,
- in a location very far from the city,
- in areas prone to landslides, floods and extreme winds.
Therefore, the renewable energy transmission network has more complex risks than the ordinary transmission network.
Transmission Network Risk Analysis for EBT Projects
For companies like LBA and all Danantara business units engaged in energy transmission and distribution, the risks below must be considered.
- Landslides (Risk #1 for Mountain Transmission)
Reason:
- high rainfall intensity,
- fragile soil layer,
- extreme slope,
- foundation shift,
- vibrations from construction activities.
Impact:
- tower collapse,
- damaged foundation,
- broken wires,
- the network is completely disconnected.
- Strong Winds & Extreme Weather
Risk:
- extreme swaying tower,
- conductor swing,
- bolt fatigue,
- insulator damage.
Winds >70 km/h can damage certain towers without warning.
- Floods & River Erosion
Many towers are located near rivers and are vulnerable to:
- foundation erosion,
- collapse,
- water infiltration.
- Foundation Failure
Reason:
- design error,
- inadequate concrete quality,
- poor anchor bolt installation.
- Insulator & Cable Failure
Including:
- arc flash,
- lightning,
- cracks,
- last connection.
- Equipment & Construction Risks
During construction:
- crane collapse,
- tool slips on slope,
- workers fall.
- Third Party Risks
Including:
- cable theft,
- public disturbance,
- vandalism.
PT LBA Suffers Major Losses After Tower Collapse
As a result of the landslide in West Bandung, PT LBA experienced:
- Tower & foundation damage: Rp 28 billion
- Replacement of conductors & insulators: Rp. 6 billion
- Landslide cleanup costs: Rp. 3 billion
- Access road repairs: Rp. 4 billion
- Downtime losses from solar power plants and wind power plants: IDR 11 billion
- Fine for late energy supply: Rp. 5 billion
Total loss:± Rp. 57 billion
Losses of this magnitude cannot be covered by company reserves without adequate insurance protection.
Insurance Protection Recommendations for EBT Transmission
EBT transmission projects require much more comprehensive insurance coverage.
- Construction/Erection All Risks (CAR/EAR)
Protect:
- tower,
- foundation,
- cable,
- insulator,
- electrical & civil works.
Mandatory extensions:
- landslide,
- flood,
- storm & typhoon,
- subsidence & collapse.
- Third Party Liability (TPL)
For third party damage:
- building,
- vehicle,
- community workers.
- Contractor’s Plant & Equipment (CPM)
For cranes, excavators, loaders and other work tools.
- Marine Cargo / Inland Transit
If the tower or conductor is sent between regions or imported.
- Operational Property All Risks (PAR/IAR)
Once the network is operational.
- Machinery Breakdown / Electrical Breakdown
For switchgear, protection relays and substation equipment.
- Business Interruption (BI)
It is important for the EBT network because downtime means huge revenue losses.
Why Quality Insurance is an Absolute Must for EBT Transmission
Due to the renewable energy transmission project:
- worth hundreds of billions,
- located in extreme locations,
- exposed to bad weather,
- requires high technical engineering.
So the policy should be placed with large capacity insurers and reinsurers such as:
- Swiss Re
- Hannover Re
- Munich Re
- Lloyd’s syndicates
Without global reinsurance support, large claims (e.g. tower collapses and landslides) are very difficult to pay.
Fatal Company Mistake: Buying Policies Directly
Many renewable energy project companies purchase insurance directly from insurance companies.
This is dangerous because:
- Direct Policy Does Not Cover Subsidence & Landslide
In fact, this is the biggest risk in renewable energy projects.
- No Wording Adjustments
Standard policy does not cover:
- erosion,
- foundation settlement,
- extreme weather clause.
Without a broker, all important extensions are lost.
- Claims are very difficult to pay
Insurer direct will state:
- ground movement excluded,
- design defect excluded,
- natural perils restricted.
- No Risk Monitoring
Brokers do:
- location assessment,
- foundation check,
- audit site slope,
- mitigation recommendations.
Insurer direct does not do this.
L&G Insurance Broker—Indonesia’s Strategic Partner for Transmission and Energy Protection
L&G has handled:
- large-scale solar power projects,
- wind power plant,
- hydroelectric power plant,
- EPC energy,
- heavy logistics,
- marine cargo,
- engineering insurance.
L&G Advantages:
⚡1. Transmission & Construction Wording Expert
Including:
- Landslide clause,
- Tower collapse,
- Underground risk,
- Environmental liability.
⚡2. Global Insurer & Reinsurer Network
Especially for high risk EBT.
⚡ 3. Technical Risk Review
Audit:
- foundation,
- slope,
- access path,
- electrical components.
⚡4. Large Claims Assistance
Starting from investigation, documentation, to claim payment.
⚡5. Over 30 Years of Experience in Energy & Infrastructure
Examples of Transmission Failure Cases in the World
- Honduras (2019)
Tower collapsed due to landslide → 20 days downtime.
- China (2020)
Extreme winds knocked out a 500 kV line.
- Nepal (2015)
The earthquake damaged the hydroelectric transmission.
All cases are the same: natural risks have a huge domino effect.
Action Plan for EBT Transmission Project
✔1. Conduct geotechnical inspections every 6 months
Termasuk slope stability & water infiltration.
✔2. Use complete insurance protection CAR + PAR + BI
Including landslides & extreme weather.
✔3. Engage expert energy & construction brokers
For wording design and claims management.
✔4. Use a large capacity global reinsurer
So that the tower collapse claim can be paid in full.
✔5. Monitor real-time sensors
Includes inclinometer, rainfall gauge, and tilt sensor.
The renewable energy network is not just about steel and cables.
The incident at PT Listrik Bumi Andala proves that:
- the renewable energy transmission network is vulnerable,
- the risk of landslides cannot be predicted,
- losses reached tens of billions in a matter of minutes,
- and quality insurance protection is the most important defense.
In Indonesia’s era of green energy acceleration,L&G Insurance Brokerpresent to ensure that all renewable energy projects are under the best protection.
Disclaimer
This article uses fictitious company names, characters, and locations for educational purposes, including risk management and insurance. Any resemblance to actual events is purely coincidental. This information is for general reference only and not legal or contractual advice. Actual risk analysis should be conducted in the field.
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DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME AND SECURE YOUR FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS WITH THE RIGHT INSURANCE.
HOTLINE L&G 24 JAM: 0811-8507-773(CALL – WHATSAPP – SMS)
Website: lngrisk.co.id
Email: halo@lngrisk.co.id
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