Development of a mini grid by utilizing local energy is most suitable for island areasJakarta (ANTARA) - Electrification ratio, or the ratio of households that have access to electricity to the total households in Indonesia, will be completed to reach 100 percent by 2023, the Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Ministry stated.
In 2022, the electrification ratio had reached 99.63 percent, an increase of 0.18 percent, from 99.45 percent in 2021.
Acting Director General of Electricity at the ESDM Ministry Dadan Kusdiana in his statement, here on Thursday, spoke about one of the ministry's strategies to expand access to electricity across Indonesia, especially in the frontier, outermost, and disadvantaged (3T) areas.
The strategy aims to increase grid extension in villages that are in proximity to the existing distribution network.
"The strategy to achieve a 100-percent electrification ratio is through a program to expand the connection network in villages or households that are close to the PLN grid, through the grid extension program," he remarked.
Grid extension is the government's top choice program to provide access to electricity to villages that do not yet have an electricity grid, to replace previous energy-saving solar lamps (LTSHE), and electrify villages with non-PLN electricity.
Kusdiana highlighted that another step pertained to building a mini grid through the construction of a power plant.
This step is being pursued by utilizing the potential of local new renewable energy (EBT) for areas that are difficult to reach with people living communally through the expansion of the PLN electricity network.
"Development of a mini grid by utilizing local energy is most suitable for island areas," he added.
Kusdiana explained that providing electricity access to villages in 3T areas is also carried out by encouraging the use of EBT based on local potential equipped with electric power distribution devices (apdal) and electric charging stations (spel).
"This program aims to provide electricity to villages that do not yet have electricity, whose settlement areas are scattered due to which it is not possible to build electricity networks or mini grids," he stated.
To accelerate the electrification ratio to 100 percent, Kusdiana said the government also provided 450-VA new electricity installation assistance (BPBL) for households that could not afford it and did not yet have electricity.
Residents entitled to this assistance are those registered in the Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS), with an electrification target of 83 thousand houses in 2023.
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Translator: Kelik Dewanto, Katriana
Editor: Sri Haryati
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