"I want electricity to be available so our children can study using technology," Bahlil said in a statement on Friday, following a visit to several isolated communities in Papua the day before.
In Tindaret village in Yapen Islands district, electricity is now available at a public elementary school. This effort is part of the School Revitalization and Digital Learning Program initiated by President Prabowo Subianto.
In North Yapen district, Bahlil noted that electrification is not only powering homes and schools, but also opening up new opportunities for local economic and social development.
He then traveled to Owi Island in Biak Numfor district, where he found that residents currently have access to electricity for only 12 hours per day from a diesel-powered plant.
"The CEO of PLN is here in your village today — this shows we're serious about fulfilling your request for 24-hour electricity," he told local residents, referring to the state electricity company, PLN.
To improve electricity access in Papua, the government has outlined plans under the 2025–2029 Papua Lisdes Program Roadmap. These include grid expansion, minigrid systems, and standalone solar power units with battery storage for households in districts like Yapen Islands and Biak Numfor.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said it will continue working closely with PLN and local governments to accelerate electrification efforts in the region and advance energy justice for all Indonesians.
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Translator: Yoanita Hastryka Djohan
Editor: Anton Santoso
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