Cilacap – Cilacap Regency in Central Java and Raja Ampat in West Papua were chosen as pilot projects for the energy transition programme in the marine and fisheries sector. PLN assisted Battery-Based Electric Motorised Boats (KBLBB), control devices and batteries to fishermen in Cilacap Regency.
PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo said that the electric boat assistance programme is part of efforts to accelerate the electric vehicle ecosystem in Indonesia, including encouraging various conversion innovations from petrol-based vehicles to electricity. He said switching to electricity will directly contribute to reducing emissions.
General Manager of PLN Central Java and Yogyakarta Distribution Unit, Mochamad Soffin Hadi, said that the conversion programme also aims to support the establishment of a ‘green’ fishery ecosystem, as well as a big step in the process of developing an electric-based marine vehicle ecosystem.
“The PLN group collaborates with the Central Java Provincial Government and the Cilacap Regency Government in building this environmentally friendly vehicle ecosystem. Starting from the design engineering process and KBLBB spare parts, the provision of charging ecosystems and battery exchange, installation and conversion of fishing boats, digital platforms for charging systems, including operation and maintenance are also carried out,” he said.
In addition to electric boats, PLN is also building a Public Electric Vehicle Charging Station (SPKLU) at the Pandanarang Fish Auction Pier (TPI), Teluk Penyu, Cilacap, which can be used for charging electric boats. “We are now developing Public Electric Vehicle Battery Swap Stations to make the use of electric boats easier and more massive,” Hadi said.
Separately, Budi, one of the fishermen, admitted that if they use a fuel motorboat, they have to spend at least Rp 230,000 to buy 20 litres of petrol and oil once they go to sea for 8 hours. However, with this electric engine, fishermen only need Rp 25,000 to go to sea for 10 hours because the cost of electricity per kWh is only Rp 2,500. However, the fishermen feel that the cost of purchasing the engine is relatively high. They hope that there will be incentives provided by the government to encourage the energy transition process.
Previously, PLN also assisted three units of electric-boat motor fishfinders and cold storage with a capacity of 318 litres to make ice cubes and preserve fish caught for fishermen in Sauwandarek Village, Raja Ampat, West Papua. In addition, a solar power plant (PLTS) with a capacity of 5.4 kWp was also built as a source of energy using the tools provided by PLN.
Through the Social and Environmental Responsibility (CSR) programme, PLN is transforming all fisheries infrastructure and marine economy from upstream to downstream in Raja Ampat based on electricity from environmentally friendly sources. (Hartatik)
Banner photo: Electric boat motor donated by PLN for fishermen in Sauwandarek Village, Raja Ampat, West Papua. (Source: PLN)
