Indonesia And Switzerland Establish Cooperation In Strengthening The Competence Of Hydropower Teachers

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Swiss government, through the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) development cooperation grant project and the Indonesian Government, supports the strengthening of the competence of lecturers and laboratory institutions from five state polytechnics in the field of Hydroelectric Power Generation (PLTA).

The training was held for lecturers and laboratory staff from PEM Akamigas Cepu, Bali State Polytechnic, Jakarta State Polytechnic, Manado State Polytechnic, and Ujung Pandang State Polytechnic.

The training was held for two weeks from March 21 to April 2, 2022, at the ASEAN Center for Hydropower Competence (HYCOM), which is a competency training center managed by PT Entec and the Center for Quality Assurance Development for Vocational Education in Machinery and Industrial Engineering (BBPPMPV BMTI) in Bandung, West Java.

Competency strengthening training for Polytechnic lecturers and educational laboratory institutions is also supported by industry experts. The material provided includes technical design, planning, installation, operation, maintenance, and supervision of hydropower plants.

Furthermore, the training participants received a competency test for the operation of a Micro-hydro Power Plant (PLTMH). Participants will also make field visits to the PLTMH locations at the Dewata Cikahuripan Tea Plantation, CV Protel Multi Energy, and PT Heksa Prakarsa Teknik, Bandung.

This series of training is part of the Renewable Energy Skills Development (RESD) which is a collaborative project between SECO and three Indonesian ministry agencies for five years.

The three institutions are the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, and the Ministry of Manpower.

The Head of the Center for Human Resources Development for Electricity, New Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (PPSDM KEBTKE) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Laode Sulaeman said, the RESD cooperation project between the Energy and Mineral Resources Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM ESDM) and the Swiss Government SECO is expected to help accelerate the addition of new and renewable energy generating capacity (EBT).

"This collaboration is expected to support an increase in kilowatt-hour (kWh) per capita, encourage the achievement of the renewable energy mix target of 23 percent by 2025, and become a concrete part of the energy transition steps towards net-zero emissions in 2060 or sooner," said Laode in a statement received, Saturday, March 26.

On the same occasion, the Academic Director of Vocational Higher Education Kemendikbudristek Beny Bandanadjaja said that currently there are only two higher education institutions that have renewable energy programs.

"We still need to do a lot of developing renewable energy study programs to ensure the competence of human resources is able to support the achievement of Indonesia's energy transition targets," said Beny.

For information, this PLTA training activity is part of the development of the 1-year Specialization Diploma 4 (D4) Program (Semester 7-8) of Renewable Energy in the Solar, Hydro, and Hybrida fields.

The specialization program will be launched in September 2022 in four state polytechnics under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Culture, namely Bali State Polytechnic, Jakarta State Polytechnic, Manado State Polytechnic, and Ujung Pandang State Polytechnic.

The program will also be launched at a polytechnic under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, namely PEM Akamigas Cepu. The new program is targeted to be able to produce 450 Diploma 4 graduates with a Bachelor's degree in Applied Renewable Energy Engineering, specifically in the fields of solar power plants (PLTS) and hydroelectric power plants (PLTA).

In addition to strengthening competence for lecturers, the Swiss Government and the Indonesian Government jointly provide support for solar and hydro energy laboratory equipment for each of the polytechnics involved.

The two parties have also strengthened cooperation with the NRE industry through an industrial internship program. The partners who are members of the RESD program include BPSDM of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Directorate General of Vocational Education Kemendikbud Research and Technology, the Directorate General of Vocational Training and Productivity of the Ministry of Manpower, the Directorate General of New Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation and the Directorate General of Electricity.

Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, National Agency for Professional Certification, and National Development Planning Agency. In addition, the RESD program also collaborates with polytechnics, educational and job training institutions, industry associations, the P2 Professional Certification Institute (LSP), and the private sector.