Jakarta – The government targets all sub-districts in Indonesia to have access to electricity in the next five years. This program is one of the national priorities to increase the electrification ratio and realise energy justice in all regions of the country.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, in a written statement on Tuesday, January 21, said, “Most people in the region use electricity independently, using fuel oil (fossil fuels) as an energy source, which is very expensive.”
According to him, PT PLN (Persero) still needs to electrify 340 sub-districts in Indonesia. These include around 6,700 hamlets with 1.3 million households. The government estimates that this electrification program will require a budget of Rp48 trillion over five years.
“We need budget support of Rp48 trillion to electrify unreached areas. This big step requires cross-sector cooperation, including between the central government, the regions, and PLN,” Bahlil said.
President Prabowo Subianto fully supports this program and is optimistic that the target can be achieved within the specified time. “We must no longer allow our brothers and sisters to live in darkness. This program is our commitment to realise equitable energy,” the President said in a limited meeting at the State Palace.
PLN will spearhead the implementation of this project. PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo explained that the project will prioritise the development of New and Renewable Energy (NRE)-based power plants in remote areas.
“We will develop solar power plants (PLTS), micro-hydro, and biogas to meet electricity needs in areas difficult to reach by the PLN network. This is also in line with the government’s energy transition target,” Darmawan explained.
In addition, PLN will accelerate the development of electricity network infrastructure in areas already covered but not yet fully electrified. “Many areas are close to the PLN network, but the infrastructure is not yet adequate. This is our priority as well,” he added.
To ensure the success of this program, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is working with the Ministry of Finance on budget allocation and the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) to support the development of supporting infrastructure.
“We also encourage the involvement of local governments and local communities to support the smooth implementation of this project,” Bahlil said.
The electrification program is expected to provide people in remote areas access to energy, improve quality of life, encourage local economic growth, and accelerate development in various sectors.
“Electricity is not just about lighting, but also about the future. With electricity, children can learn better, small businesses can grow, and people can access better health services,” Bahlil concluded. (Hartatik)
