A Total Of 7 Villages On The Indonesia-Malaysia Border Have Now Been Powered 24 Hours

PLN officers after connecting electricity to residents' homes in Sei Manggari, Nunukan, North Kalimantan, early July 2023. (ANTARA/HO-PLN East Kalimantan)

BALlikPAPAN - As of July 2023, there are already 7 villages on the Indonesia-Malaysia border that have been successfully electrified by PLN. These villages enjoy 24-hour electricity per day. "For North Kalimantan Province, as of June 2023, we have succeeded in increasing the operation of the hours of operation to 24 hours. The seven villages are spread across three districts, namely Bulungan Regency, namely Naha Aya Village, Lepak Aru, and Long Pari, in Tana Tidung Regency, namely Tengku Dacing, and in Nunukan,” in detail General Manager (GM) of PLN, the Main Distribution Unit of East Kalimantan and North Kalimantan, Joice Lanny Wantania, quoted from Antara, Sunday, July 16. The villages of Sekaduyun Taka, Tabur Lestari, and Semaja have only received 24 hours of electricity from PLN. No less than 500 families or 2500 people live in the three villages, which borders directly with the Sultanate of Sabah, part of the Malaysian Federation. The three villages are in the administration of Sei Manggari District, part of Nunukan Regency on the mainland of Kalimantan which is closest to the district capital on Nunukan Island. Joice hopes that the entry of electricity in this area can encourage all sectors of life such as economy, social, education, and other supporting sectors that depend on electricity to be better and more advanced. Secretary of Sekaduyan Taka Village, Tarto (37) explained that when using a generator to generate electricity, within a month, each resident can spend more than Rp. 2 million for the cost of buying fuel oil (BBM). After PLN electricity, residents only need to spend Rp. 300 thousand to pay for the electricity account. “ Besides being more expensive because we have to buy fuel, we are also bothered because we have to maintain generators. If you use PLN electricity, it's very easy, everyone just use it,” Tarto said. On that occasion, GM Joy added that the program to electrify the outermost, remote and leading villages (3T regions) could be carried out by PLN with the support of State Capital Participation (PMN), PMN allows the challenge of electrifying villages or remote villages to be worked on. 3T areas, with long or difficult access, with a small population, will not be able to be profitable if calculated from a business perspective. According to PLN calculations, a fee of between Rp. 25-45 million is required to electrify one house in the 3T area, while the cost of a new connection for 2200 watts in the city can be less than Rp. 4 million. “ But we don't just business the way he thinks. There is also social justice. This is where the country comes with PMN, ” explained GM Joy. So PLN allocated IDR 10 trillion PMN in 2023 to build new renewable energy-based plants, IDR 3.8 trillion for the development of transmission and distribution, and IDR 4.5 trillion for distribution networks to residents' homes in target villages. “ With the extraordinary support from the government through PMN, we hope that fair energy can be realized for the entire community, especially those in the outermost, remote, and frontier areas, ” thus Joice