Indonesia taps renewable energy to electrify 4,602 remote sites

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government seeks to utilize small-scale renewable energy power plants with a total capacity of around 508 megawatts (MW) to bring electricity to 4,602 remote locations currently off the grid.

Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday, Head of the Government Communications Agency (Bakom) Muhammad Qodari said the government aims to provide electricity access to 10,068 villages and locations across Indonesia from 2025 to 2029.

Of that total, 5,466 locations can be connected to the existing power grid, while the remaining 4,602 are located in areas outside the grid's reach.

Because the 4,602 locations are outside the reach, he explained, they require the development of small-scale, off-grid power plants that operate independently.

"For off-grid locations, the electricity supply is planned to come from renewable energy power plants by leveraging the energy potential available in each respective location," he said.

Under the scheme, the renewable energy source used for each power plant will be tailored to the specific energy potential of each region.

The government has allocated Rp61.6 trillion (approximately US$3.48 billion) to support the electrification program across the 10,068 locations.

Qodari said the program will be funded entirely by the state budget and is expected to provide electricity access to around 770,000 households across 36 provinces.

According to him, providing electricity in these areas is expected to reduce household spending on alternative energy sources such as kerosene and firewood.

The introduction of electricity is also expected to boost community productivity in regions that have not yet enjoyed full access to power.

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Translator: Prisca Triferna, Raka Adji
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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