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Jokowi digs in heels over 100% electrification deadline
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A technician of state-owned electricity firm PLN checks the electrical network in Jakarta. (Antara/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo remains adamant on his plan to supply electricity to all parts of the country by the end of his term in 2019.
“The instruction from the President is that we have to achieve an electrification ratio of 100 percent in 2019,” Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan said on Wednesday, as reported by tempo.co.
One of the efforts to achieve the target was by installing solar panels in 2,500 villages across the country, said Jonan, adding that it was, however, still a great challenge for state-owned electricity company PLN.
Anther instruction from the President was to keep electricity affordable, said Jonan. “Affordability is important. Therefore, PLN is expected not to increase the prices. It is even expected to gradually reduce them,” he added.
Therefore, Jonan said he had advised PLN’s board of directors to develop power plants that use the cheapest energy resources in each region.
He cited as an example that electricity plants in North Maluku were recommended to use gas, while in Papua, power plants could use geothermal power, solar energy or mini-hydropower.
“In short, in each region, the power plants have to use energy sources of the lowest price,” Jonan added.
The minister said that Jokowi had also stressed the importance of adequate electricity supplies to support industrial development. “If electricity prices are not competitive, the products of our industry will also not be able to compete with products from other countries. (bbn)
