The President said he was fully aware of the geographical challenges in Papua but believed they should not be an obstacle for the government and relevant stakeholders to complete infrastructure projects in a timely manner.

“I’ve talked with the state electricity firm PLN president director [Sofyan Basri] and he told me it is hoped the program to provide electricity to all areas across Papua and West Papua could be completed by 2020. I said: Don’t take too long. If possible, it should be finished by 2019,” Jokowi said.

“I know Papua’s geographical conditions are very tough but our target must be completed. It’s not only for the electricity projects but all infrastructure projects in Papua."

The six electricity facilities, worth Rp 988 billion (US$75.64 million), comprise the Orya hydropower plant (PLTA) in Genyem with a capacity of 2 x 10 Megawatts (MW); a micro-hydropower plant with a capacity of 2 x 1.25 MW in Prafi, Manokwari, West Papua; a 70 kilovolt (kV) high voltage line (SUTT), which stretches 174.6 kilometers and connects Genyem-Waena-Jayapura; a 70 kV SUTT stretching for 43.4 km from Holtekamp to Jayapura; the Waena-Sentani electrical relay station with a 20 Megavolt ampere (MVA) capacity; and the Jayapura electrical relay station with a 20 MVA capacity.

“The two SUTT and two electrical relay stations will be the first ones in Papua. Their operations will help us save Rp 161 billion worth of fuel every year,” said Sofyan. (ebf)

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