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VP calls for quality, sustainability in electricity development
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Getting ready — Vice President Jusuf Kalla (right) prepares to attend a Cabinet meeting led by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo (left) at the Presidential Office in Jakarta on Sept. 27. (Antara/Yudhi Mahatma)
V
ice President Jusuf Kalla says Indonesia’s electricity development should not merely focus on achieving a balanced electrification ratio but also on efforts to improve quality and sustainable supply.
He pointed out that in a bid to compete with its neighbors, Indonesia must provide cheap electricity so that businesspeople would not move to countries with lower electricity costs.
Kalla said the government’s responsibility to develop electricity was increasing, both in terms of amount and quality.
"Electricity is a key component in industry. With high electricity prices, it’s certain our industry cannot compete with other countries that have lower electricity prices, such as Vietnam and Thailand. Therefore, developing electricity is not merely an issue of achieving a balanced percentage in the electrification ratio but also improving the quality and sustainability of our energy sources," Kalla said during the opening ceremony of the 71st National Electricity Day conference on Wednesday.
From 2011 to 2015, state-owned electricity company PLN’s business flourished. Its electricity sales increased sharply from 157 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2011 to over 202 TWh in 2015. The number of PLN customers increased from 45 million in 2011 to more than 61 million in 2015, while the electrification ratio increased from 71.23 percent to 88.3 percent in those years.
However, Indonesia has continued to suffer sporadic and widespread electricity shortages, for various reasons. These include delays in the completion of power generation and transmission regulations, a lack of bankable projects, poor infrastructure and geographical challenges. (ebf)
