President Joko Widodo has stated that the government through PT PLN (Persero) has officially began supplying electricity to Wutung, Papua New Guinea, an area bordering Skouw near Merauke, Papua. The electricity network aims to support the activities of the local community.
This was conveyed by President Joko Widodo when receiving an official state visit from Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Monday (15/7/24).
“Regarding the construction of electricity networks by PLN at the Skouw-Wutung border, I can say that this cooperation began today and electricity has started running in Wutung today,” President Jokowi said.
Prime Minister James Marape conveyed his appreciation the Indonesian Government for the electricity that has illuminated Wutung City, Papua New Guinea (PNG).
“I would like to thank you for the power (electricity) in Wutung,” PM Marape said during the joint press statement with President Joko Widodo at the Bogor Palace.
After electricity has been supplied to Wutung, the Papua New Guinea government plans to continue to utilise electricity sources from Jayapura. Later, the electricity source will be utilised to process geothermal sources in Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea can then produce electricity that is more environmentally friendly in the future. He also hopes that the geothermal resources can be exported back to Indonesia.
“So that companies in Indonesia can utilise energy generated from more environmentally friendly sources,” PM Marape added.
He hopes that environmentally friendly electrical energy from the potential of hydroelectric plants in Papua New Guinea can be utilised so that economic activities in Indonesia are obtained from clean energy.
Based on information gathered, PT PLN (Persero) is working with Papua New Guinea’s electricity company PNG Power to supply electricity to Wutung, Papua New Guinea, which is a village on the border with Papua. The cooperation is a follow-up to President Joko Widodo’s bilateral visit to Papua New Guinea on 5 July 2023. Using the transmission and distribution network in the Skouw area, Jayapura, PLN supplies additional electricity needs in Wutung City, Papua New Guinea.
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