Jakarta (ANTARA) – Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, ensured that efforts to restore access to electricity, fuel, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in disaster-affected areas across Sumatra continue to show improvement.Speaking to the press after delivering a report to President Prabowo Subianto at the State Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, Lahadalia said that electricity recovery in North Sumatra is expected to resume gradually starting Friday (Dec. 5) night.Several districts in North Sumatra have already begun receiving power again. In Central Tapanuli, electricity was partially restored on Wednesday (Dec. 3) night, although the system is not yet fully optimal. Meanwhile, in Sibolga, power has been functioning properly since Wednesday evening.In Aceh, however, repairs are still underway after several transmission towers connecting the Arun Gas Engine Power Plant (PLTMG Arun) in several cities collapsed due to flooding. Lahadalia aims to complete the normalization of the facility by Saturday (Dec. 6).Regarding fuel availability, the minister assured that current stock levels remain sufficient for the next 7–8 days.The main challenge, he noted, lies in distribution, as several land routes have been cut off. Therefore, the government is deploying fuel deliveries via jerrycans, tanker trucks, sea routes, and even air routes.To ease long queues at fuel stations that have resumed operations, the ministry has decided to temporarily suspend the mandatory barcode system for fuel purchases in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra until conditions fully recover.LPG distribution is also gradually improving, though still below optimal levels. Supplies for Sibolga, Central Tapanuli, and South Tapanuli in North Sumatra are currently being rerouted from West Sumatra.Meanwhile, the death toll from the flash floods and landslides that struck three provinces in Sumatra continues to rise. According to the latest update from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) as of Friday, the number of confirmed fatalities has climbed to 846, with 547 people still missing.Aceh remains the most affected province, recording 325 deaths, followed by North Sumatra with 311, and West Sumatra with 210.