The government, the House of Representatives and the state electricity company PT PLN (Persero) have synergized to provide free electricity connections from the New Electricity Installation Assistance (BPBL) programme to 342 poor families in Southwest Papua Province. This synergy is clear evidence that the state is there to provide equitable energy.
The presence of electricity was happily welcomed by the people of Southwest Papua, among whom was Wahyu. The resident of Kaibus Village, Teminabuan District, said he was happy for the assistance provided by the government and PLN because now he and his family do not need to struggle to get electricity anymore.
“I am very happy with this electricity assistance because it is very helpful. We used to connect electricity from our neighbours and the cost was quite high. Now it is quite cheaper. In the past, we had to spend up to IDR 200,000 every month for electricity only. Thank you to the government and PLN for their help and attention,” he said.
The Regional Secretary of South Sorong Regency, Dance Nauw, said that the availability of electricity is very helpful for the community in productive activities at night, including learning activities for school children. So, this assistance is one of the solutions in improving welfare and a better life through providing access to electricity.
“The installation of electricity provides significant benefits in life activities in various aspects. Electricity has become a basic life necessity. Nowadays, people do not connect electricity illegally because it is very dangerous,” said Dance.
Member of the House of Representatives’ (DPR RI) Commission VII Rico Sia said that the presence of electricity is very important for the community. Therefore, he is ready to help so that assistance can be obtained evenly by the entire community.
“Let us work together to fight for the welfare of the community. For the village officials, I thank you for submitting accurate data so that assistance can be given right on target. I also thank PLN for striving to electrify all regions without exception,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Director of Electricity Programme Development at the Directorate General of Electricity of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Wanhar, said that the BPBL programme received by the community was in the form of electrical installation, three lamps, an outlet and a token voucher worth fifty thousand rupiah. The presence of this programme is expected to help the community to enjoy access to electricity.
Wanhar added that the realisation of BPBL recipients in Teminabuan District alone was given to 59 underprivileged households.
According to the 2023 target, the New Electricity Installation Assistance Programme with 900 VA power will be given to 83,000 underprivileged households spread across 32 provinces.
“Thank you to our friends at PLN and related stakeholders for achieving this. Hopefully this good cooperation and coordination can be maintained and improved in the future so that it will further benefit the community,” said Wanhar.
PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo said that the distribution of free electricity through the BPBL programme is a tangible manifestation of the state’s commitment to be present in realising equitable energy. Therefore, PLN will continue to support the government’s efforts to increase the electrification ratio (RE) so that all people can access electricity so as to keep the economy moving. Darmawan also thanked all parties who supported the BPBL programme to run well.
PLN is also ready to follow the government’s direction and continue to collaborate to deliver the BPBL programme to every part of the country.
“Our brothers and sisters, especially those in remote areas, have the right to enjoy electrical energy. For this reason, PLN, with the direction and support of the government, received this mandate. So that under any conditions, we must be able to distribute electricity to people in need,” Darmawan said.
In recent years, the electrification ratio has continued to increase. In 2015, the national electrification ratio only reached 88.3 per cent, while by the end of 2022 it will reach 99.63 per cent.
West Papua Now 