Mataram, W Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - The National Electricity Company, PLN, is setting up investment funds amounting to Rp23 billion (US$ 1.7 million) to install submarine power cables that will light up the tourist area of Gili Gede, in West Lombok district, West Nusa Tenggara province.

The Director of PLNs Regional Business for Sulawesi and Nusa Tenggara, Machnizon Masri, here, Wednesday, said the construction of the undersea cables of 20 kilo volts (kV) and 2.4 kilometer circuit (kms) is expected to complete in December 2017.

"In the future the electricity network in Gili Gede will be interconnected with the electrical system in Lombok," he said, adding that the infrastructure aims to electrify 450 households in the island who are mostly fishermen.

"With the electricity project in Gili Gede, we hope that the electrification ratio in the province will increase," Machnizon noted.

According to PLN, until the end of 2016, the electrification ratio in West Nusa Tenggara reached 77.68 percent of the target of 75.9 percent.

PLN expects electrification ratio in the province reached 88.5 percent by the end of 2019.

Gili Gede is one of the tourist destinations for yachters from various countries.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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