Vice President Gibran Inspects National Strategic Projects, Promotes Infrastructure and Energy Equity in Eastern Indonesia
Maluku – Marking the first year of his administration, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka conducted a working visit to Maluku Province to inspect two National Strategic Projects (PSN): the Way Apu Dam on Buru Island and the Nusantara 1 Barge Mounted Power Plant (BMPP) in Central Maluku Regency. The visit underscored the government’s commitment to equitable development, particularly in infrastructure and energy for Eastern Indonesia.
The Vice President’s first stop was the Way Apu Dam, which is listed as a key national strategic project. This infrastructure is expected to boost economic growth, enhance food security, and provide environmentally friendly energy for surrounding communities.
“His hope is that the facility will truly benefit the local people,” said Fery Moun Hepy, Head of the Maluku River Basin Agency, who accompanied the Vice President during the inspection.
Fery explained that the dam project is targeted for completion by September 2026. Once operational, the Way Apu Damwill irrigate around 10,000 hectares of rice fields, ensure clean water supply, reduce flood risk, and include an 8-megawatt hydroelectric power plant (PLTA) to provide green energy.
After visiting Buru Island, VP Gibran continued to BMPP Nusantara 1 in Waai Village, Central Maluku – a floating power plant with a capacity of 60 megawatts. During the visit, Gibran emphasized the need to expand access to electricity, especially in remote and rural areas.
“Villages that still have electricity for only 12 hours a day must move toward 24-hour access. The government wants all Indonesians to have equal energy access,” Gibran stated.
Noer Soeratmoko, General Manager of PLN Maluku-Malut, explained that increasing electricity service hours is being done gradually, depending on local infrastructure and community needs.
“Many villagers, especially farmers and fishers, mainly use electricity at night. But as daytime activities grow, we’re increasing service from 6 to 12 hours, and then eventually to 24 hours,” he said.
He also noted that PLN is currently repairing aging equipment while awaiting the implementation of new renewable energy projects, such as solar power plants. One key obstacle, however, is limited road access to remote villages, which hampers the transport of equipment.
“We are optimizing existing infrastructure to expand 24-hour access to more people, in line with the Vice President’s directive,” added Soeratmoko.
Meanwhile, Governor of Maluku, Hendrik Lewerissa, affirmed the regional government’s commitment to accelerating the development of supporting infrastructure, such as roads and electricity networks.
“We’re ready to work in synergy to ensure electricity and energy reach every village. This is a vital foundation for Maluku’s future development,” the Governor stated.
This visit reaffirms the central government’s serious effort to realize national development equity, in line with the vision of President Prabowo Subianto, ensuring that all Indonesians—without exception—benefit from infrastructure development.
