So The Frontier Region, Kaltara Border Citizens Receive Free Electricity New Installation Assistance

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The government through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) provides free electricity connections to 364 households in North Kalimantan (Kaltara). The connection is included in the Electricity New Installation Assistance Program (BPBL) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources which received full support from Commission VII of the DPR RI. "A total of 364 households will receive BPBL for North Kalimantan Province, where Tarakan City will get 114 household connections spread across 4 sub-districts," said Director of Electricity Entrepreneurship Development at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Jisman Hutajulu to the media, Friday, November 4. Jisman said that his party was completing 80,000 household connections throughout Indonesia by the end of 2022. In addition to increasing the electrification ratio, the BPBL program is also expected to improve people's standard of living and independence. "With access to electricity itself, it is hoped that the BPBL beneficiaries will no longer depend on the provision of electricity from neighbors," said Jisman. Member of Commission VII of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI) Arkanata Akram who was present online expressed his appreciation to the government for the synergy with the DPR in implementing the BPBL program in North Kalimantan. "Thank you to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources as a partner of Commission VII for synergizing, especially in the implementation of the BPBL program. I hope this program goes well, especially to the people of Tarakan City," said Arkanata. He further explained that North Kalimantan as the leading area that borders Malaysia directly must pay attention to its electrical conditions. "Our area is at the forefront, to be at the forefront of neighboring countries, lest the regions that are the face of Indonesia for other countries become less advanced due to the lack of electricity infrastructure," said Arkanata. On the same occasion, PT PLN (Persero) Retail Customer Service EVP Saleh Siswanto stated that PLN is ready to carry out the task of the government for the implementation of this BPBL program. "We are ready to synergize with the government to execute programs that have been launched in order to create fair electrical energy for the Indonesian people," said Saleh. Mayor Tarakan Khairul welcomed the government's plan and hoped that the proposed data on BPBL recipients in his area could be accepted. "Thank you ESDM and PLN so that this program can be continued, my suggestion is that all our BPBL proposals come in. Hopefully this program can prosper the community," said Khairul. After the inauguration ceremony, the first electrical lighting ceremony was also carried out for residents in Pantai Amal Village, East Tarakan District, Tarakan City. Two BPBL beneficiaries said they were happy with the free electricity transfer provided by the government.