Strengthening Business, PLN Cooperates With Four Energy Startups

JAKARTA - PLN Group is collaborating with four Indonesian startups in the energy sector. This collaboration is an effort by PLN to strengthen its business, as well as support the growth of startups in the country.

The four startups in question are Kanggo, Rekosystem, Imajin and Fresh Factory. The four startups are participants in the 'Contact Powered by PLN' program, which includes incubation and collaboration activities with startups.

PLN's Director of Corporate Planning and Business Development, Hartanto Wibowo, said that cooperation with four startups is a progressive step for the company to create a sustainable business ecosystem.

On the other hand, Hartanto explained that this collaboration was a real step for PLN to become the center of energy startups to electricity in Indonesia.

"The Signing of Cooperation Agreements is a tangible form of PLN's commitment to becoming the epicenter for energy startups, electricity, and derivatives, so that companies can continue to adapt to technological advances and behavioral changes that are all digital in the modern era," he said in an official statement, Sunday, November 26.

In addition to strengthening PLN's business and startups, Hartanto said that this synergy is expected to contribute to providing solutions to local problems. He also hopes that this collaboration does not stop here, but will continue to a wider level.

PLN wants to place itself as the epicenter of the development of energy startups in Indonesia. So that not only will we cooperate with four startups, but in the future we will try to build an ecosystem together and enjoy the development of this energy industry together," said Hartanto.

Hartanto said that this collaboration with the startup is a new history for PLN, so that in the future it is hoped that they can work better together.

"Once again, this is not the end story of PLN with startups. In 2024 we have prepared a big program than 2023. The point is that we want to be a big house for the epicenter of Indonesia's startup development," he said.

One of the startup representatives, Fresh Factory CEO Larry Ridwan welcomed the continuation of the signing of his company's cooperation with PLN. According to him, it is important for his party to cooperate with PLN in this electricity sector.

"We don't think there is a better partner to support us in this field other than PLN, yes. So I think the synergy will be extraordinary. This is just the beginning of all the trips and God willing, this can make us unicorns," he said.

The cooperation is carried out between the PLN Main Distribution Unit of West Kalimantan and PLN Icon Plus with Fresh Factory to build a cold chain warehouse network. The warehouse is equipped with telematics technology to improve the quality of cooling storage in West Kalimantan which is expected to help strengthen Indonesia's food security program.

Then, PLN Energy Management Indonesia collaborates with the Recosystem, a startup engaged in the waste to energy industry. These two companies cooperate to utilize waste into fuel for steam power plants (PLTU) with the first operating area in East Java. This step can increase the mix of renewable energy at PLN.

Meanwhile, PLN Icon Plus and Kanggo work together to provide carpentry service solutions on the Marketplace platform in the PLN Mobile application. In addition to making it easier for PLN customers to get carpentry services, this collaboration can also increase the absorption of Indonesian carpentry workers.

Furthermore, PT Malinora Power collaborates with Imajin startups engaged in the manufacturing on demand industry. This collaboration facilitates Indonesia's small and medium-scale manufacturing efforts in utilizing advanced machines owned by PLN to improve the quality and level of Indonesian Domestic Components (TKDN).

Just for information, Connect powered by PLN is an incubation and collaboration program aimed at building a PLN ecosystem by involving various startups, both directly related to electricity and not directly related. All collaborating startups have gone through the selection stage and the incubation stage or business exploration assistance that runs from March to November 2023.