Govt Speeds Up Electrification of 433 Villages in Eastern Indonesia

MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES

REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

PRESS RELEASE

NUMBER: 145.Pers/04/SJI/2020

Date: 3 April 2020

Govt Speeds Up Electrification of 433 Villages in Eastern Indonesia

President of Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, appreciates the efforts of Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (EMR) to speed up the realization of Electrification Ratio exceeding the target set in the Medium-Term National Development Plan (RPJMN) of 2015-2019.

"The Electrification Ratio until 2020 has reached 99.48 percent, increasing very significantly from 84% in 2014 and exceeding the target for the 2015-2019 RPJMN of 96%," explained Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in a Limited Meeting of the Forward Indonesia Cabinet held online on Friday (3/4).

However, Jokowi urges that clear identification be made to the non-electrified villages, especially 433 villages in Eastern Indonesia to make the electrification policy on target. "Please identify clearly which villages are located near electricity (grid)," said Jokowi.

House distance, continues Jokowi, is very crucial in deciding which technology approach is appropriate. "Whether we extend electricity connection or we apply mini-grids such as micro (hydro), diesel power plants (PLTD), or distribution of gresik cylinders complete with electric energy station," detailed Jokowi.

Presiden underlines that economic productivity and children education quality are the deciding factors to implement efficient and production policies. "Electrification must give added value to develop home industry and to enable children study at night with good light, so education quality will improve," Jokowi asserted.

The government through Ministry of EMR has committed to realize the Electrification Ratio to 100%.

"Electrification is the government's obligation because electricity is a basic need, also development capital. All people must be granted access to energy and energy tariff must be affordable," said Minister of EMR, Arifin Tasrif, at the Limited Meeting.

Fulfillment of electrification ratio will improve Indonesia's ranking on electricity access population, currently sits at 95. Besides, it will also lift the realization of electricity supply quality.

Currently, as many as 433 villages have not enjoyed electricity. These villages are located in four provinces, namely Papua 325 villages, West Papua 102 villages, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) 5 villages, and Maluku 1 village.

In the 2019 end-of-year performance report of Ministry of EMR, the Electrification Ratio of the four provinces as of December 2019 was 85%, 92%, 94%, and 99% for NTT, Maluku, Papua, and West Papua, respectively.

Arifin further details village electricity supply. "Currently, PLN supplies electricity to 74,430 villages, while electricity for 5,515 villages is not supplied by PLN and is instead generated independently by the locals or aided by social community groups," said Arifin.

To run the electrification program, Ministry of EMR and the state utility company Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) have made non-conventional breakthroughs or innovations. The decision was made considering areas in Eastern Indonesia do not have complete infrastructure so that construction will need enormous funds and longer time.

"We know that the terrains in Papua are very difficult. Most of these villages are located on mountainous terrain thousands of meters high. There are no roads, no transportation. So, we have used spatial optimization and pattern recognition approaches," stated PLN's President Director, Zulkifli Zaini, in his official statement. (IY)

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