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Electrification on track: Jokowi
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo delivers his state of the nation address before members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Aug. 16. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo says the national electrification program is on track, as more and more people living in remote areas are enjoying electricity.
In his state of the nation address before members of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Wednesday – the day before Independence Day –, Jokowi noted that the country had achieved a national electrification ratio of 92 percent as of March this year.
He then congratulated Wogalirit villagers in Sikka regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) for gaining access to electricity after 72 years of independence.
“Finally they can enjoy electricity. Congratulations also to all the other villagers in the country who gained access to electricity in 2017,” he said.
Read also: Indonesia putting an end to power crises one province at a time
Jokowi has set a target to boost the electrification ratio to 97 percent by 2019 through his ambitious 35,000 megawatt (MW) program.
According to data from state-owned electricity firm PLN, only eight out of 18 PLN operational regions have reserve margins of over 30 percent, which is the recommended margin by the International Energy Agency (IEA).
PLN’s latest electricity procurement business plan (RUPTL) also shows it aims to increase the reserve margins of 16 operational regions by 2019 and raise the electrification ratio to 100 percent by 2024. (bbn)
