Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government is pushing for energy transition through solar power plants (PLTS) for small islands in the Labuan Bajo area, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara.
Head of the Joint Secretariat for the Sherpa Track and Finance Track, Susiwijono Moegiarso, stated that Labuan Bajo was one of the locations that was encouraged to host various G20 Presidency events.
"Some eight events will be held here, including the 2nd Sherpa Meeting and several Working Group level meetings (Tourism, Supreme Audit, Energy Transition, Digital Economy, Trade-Investment-Industry)," Moegiarso noted in a statement in Jakarta, Monday.
Moegiarso affirmed that the presence of solar power on remote islands not only demonstrates the commitment to use environment-friendly electricity sources but has also actually been used by people in isolated areas to support their lives.
Solar electricity on small islands is able to boost productivity and economy of the local community, including those in the ice cube business, carpentry with electricity, refilling gallons of water, and the business of storing fish catches with chillers.
"This is a very good example for us to showcase at the G20 Presidency forum in Labuan Bajo," he emphasized.
The series of activities under Indonesia's G20 Presidency, comprise 184 main agenda activities comprising Summit, Ministerial Meeting, Central Bank Governor, Sherpa/Deputies, Working Group and Engagement Group in addition to some 254 side-events and Road to G20 held around 25 locations across Indonesia.
These various series of activities require support in the form of electricity supply from PT PLN (Persero) for organizing all G20 Presidency events.
PLN is committed to supplying environment-friendly electricity to support the entire series of activities of the G20 Indonesia Presidency, not only for holding a series of G20 meetings but also as a showcase to support the main meeting as well as to demonstrate to the world that environment-friendly electricity has been present in the small islands for supporting the lives of remote communities.
PLN's commitment to encouraging the use of new and renewable energy is not only by making energy transitions to large power plants but also by building environment-friendly power plants in remote locations to replace the use of diesel-fueled generators by the community.
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The company utilizes PLTS on small islands in the area around Labuan Bajo, such as PLTS on Messah Island and PLTS on Papagarang Island.
In the past, people on the islands of Messah and Papagarang relied on generators to provide electricity. Joint venture residents paid a rent of Rp10 thousand per day that was distributed through a cable network from house to house.
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Currently, all households have enjoyed electricity services from the PLTS built on the two islands.
"The PLTS on Papagarang Island and Messah Island really support the lives of the residents and are able to improve the community's economy," he stated.
