The Government is Committed to Increasing the Electrification of the Papua Special Region to Support the Community’s Economy
Electricity has become a basic need for all society, electricity is very useful for many things, such as households, industry, offices and others. Therefore, the government continues to strive to increase electrification in Indonesia, including in the New Autonomous Region (DOB) Papua in order to support the community’s economy.
In order to increase these efforts, PT PLN (Persero) Papua and West Papua Regional Main Unit (UIW) noted that the electrification ratio in West Papua Province as of July 2023 had reached 88.75 percent.
PLN UIW Papua and West Papua Communications and TJSL Manager Muchammad Djalaludin said, PLN has launched an energy storage innovation program, namely Surya Power Solusi for Nengeri (SuperSun) to optimize equitable access to electricity for the community.
The electrification ratio from PLN is already 88.75 percent, while the combined electrification ratio with local government ministries is 99.99 percent. According to Djalaludin, the implementation of the SuperSun program makes it easier for people living in isolated inland areas to enjoy electricity through the use of solar energy.
This program is very relevant to the geographical conditions in a number of areas that are difficult to reach with the construction of electricity networks, and the population in one area is less than 100 households.
PLN is also committed to completing the electrification ratio target of 100 percent, therefore it has launched various innovation programs. He explained that PLN prioritizes the use of renewable energy-based generators that are more environmentally friendly to supply electricity to people’s homes in remote areas through Solar Power Plants (PLTS).
At this location, a PV module-based electrical energy charging station (SPEL) will be built using a solar energy-based electrical charging device (APDAL). He said, there are areas that are difficult to reach and if there are dozens of houses, SPEL and APDAL will be built, if there are only dozens of houses, the SuperSun program will be created.
Of course, this program is not only in West Papua, PLN will also try to maximize the electrification ratio in the new autonomous region (DOB) of Southwest Papua Province in order to improve the people’s economy. Therefore, PLN needs support from both district and provincial governments throughout the Land of Papua in order to realize the target of 100 percent electrification ratio in 2024.
Later PLN will also work with the Papua New Guinea power company (PNG Power) to supply electricity to Wutung Village, which is a village on the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border.
On a different occasion, PT PLN has also added an Electric Vehicle Charging Station (SPKLU) in Manowari, West Papua Province. The SPKLU, which is located at the PLN Customer Service Implementation Unit (UP3) Manokwari Office, is here to accelerate the growth of electric vehicles in eastern Indonesia.
Darmawan Prasodjo as Main Director of PT PLN said PLN will continue to encourage the acceleration of electric vehicle users in the country. One of the efforts made by PLN is to continue to increase the infrastructure for the electric vehicle ecosystem. The construction of the SPKLU in Papua is a concrete step taken by PLN to encourage the growth of electric vehicles in order to succeed in the energy transition towards environmentally friendly based vehicles in order to achieve the net zero emissions (NZE) target in 2060.
General Manager of the PLN Main Unit for the Papua and West Papua Regions, Budiono, explained that the SPKLU in Manokwari increased the number of SPKLUs from previously only three units in the Papua and West Papua regions. Among them, two units at the PLN UIW Papua and West Papua offices, one unit at the PLN UP3 Sorong Office and now at PLN UP3 Manowari. Currently, PLN has built 4 SPKLUs in West Papua and Papua. PLN will continue to increase the number of charging facilities gradually and spread across the Papua region to encourage people to switch to electric vehicles. PLN also plans to add one SPKLU unit in Biak.
People also no longer need to worry about charging electric vehicle batteries. Apart from that, several PLN Mobile features can also make it easier for electric vehicle users to know the location of the nearest SPKLU via electric vehicle digital services (EVDS). Apart from that, PLN also provides a 30% discount promo on electricity rates from 22.00 WIT to 05.00 WIT for customers who charge their electric cars at home.
Nationally, PLN currently has provided 616 units spread over 284 locations throughout the country. This number has increased significantly compared to the previous year which was 267 units in 197 locations.
Increasing electrification in the Papua Special Region is certainly a positive thing that should be appreciated, the need for electricity is an important thing that must be met, especially since many activities, both household and industrial, require electrical energy.
