The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (KESDM) together with State Electricity Company PLN have distributed free electricity connection assistance to 1,500 poor households spread across West Papua and Southwest Papua Provinces.
The symbolic ignition of the New Electricity Installation Assistance Program (BPBL) was carried out by a Member of Commission VII of the House of Representatives, Rico Sia, Coordinator of Electric Power Transmission Planning of the Directorate General of Electricity of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Muhadi, General Manager of PLN Papua and West Papua Regional Main Unit, Budiono and Expert Staff of the Sorong Regent for Development, Markus Karath in Aimas District, Sorong Regency, Tuesday 12 December 2023.
Maryani (54), one of the beneficiaries, is very grateful for the assistance provided. For years, he and his family had to rely on connecting electricity to his brother’s house to turn on electricity in lights, fans, televisions, rice cookers to refrigerators as capital to sell ice.
“Alhamdulillah, this assistance helped us a lot. This free electricity assistance is for selling ice and small snacks in front of the house. We can open until night because we are no longer afraid of the lights dimming, because we have to change to using a blender when selling ice. Thank you to the government and all those who helped,” said Maryani.
Member of Commission VII of the House of Representatives, Rico Sia expressed his appreciation to all parties who have helped and supported the realization of the BPBL program. He emphasized that this program is intended for poor people to be able to access electricity comfortably.
“Free electricity from the BPBL program is running well and can make the community happy. Hopefully the electrification ratio in West Papua and Southwest Papua can continue to increase and everything can be turned on. Children can learn and we can do household activities well,” he said.
Expert Staff to the Sorong Regent for Development, Markus Karath expressed his gratitude for the efforts of all parties in providing the electricity needs of the people in the land of Papua. Through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and PLN, the electricity needs of underprivileged people can be fulfilled. “Congratulations to the people who received electricity connection assistance so that their homes are now bright. In the past, it was dark and now they can comfortably get electricity,” Markus said.
General Manager of PLN for Papua and West Papua Region Main Unit, Budiono explained that BPBL program recipients will get home electrical installations in the form of 3 light points and 1 contact box, inspection, installation testing, issuance of Operation Feasibility Certificate (SLO), electricity connection to PLN and the first electricity token worth IDR 100.000. In the future, PLN hopes that this collaboration will be the first step in synergy to expand and develop other cooperation that allows the utilization of business potential in the electricity ecosystem,” concluded Budiono.
Source: KabarPapua.co
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