Jokowi Wants To Increase Exports Of Areca Nuts, PLN Ready To Support Electricity Supply

President Jokowi releases betel nuts for export at the CV Indokara factory, Muaro Jambi Regency, Jambi Province, Thursday (07/04/2022). (Photo: BPMI Setpres/Lukas)

JAKARTA - PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (Persero) or PLN is ready to support the government's efforts to increase the production and export of betel nut agricultural products from Jambi to various countries. One of them is the provision of reliable electricity for operations.

Previously, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) released exports of 126 tons of dry betel nuts worth IDR 4 billion from Jambi to Pakistan on Thursday, April 7. Jokowi hopes that the development of these crops will continue to be improved in order to make them an export commodity that supports the Indonesian economy.

The increase in exports was due to promising opportunities. Moreover, areca nut is an export commodity that is much needed in Thailand, India, Iran, China, to Pakistan.

Responding to this, the Manager of the PLN Jambi Customer Service Implementation Unit (UP3) Hanfi Adhrean said that PLN was ready to support operational activities and efforts to increase the export of areca nut seeds from Jambi City by providing reliable electricity.

Hanfi said, the increase in the export of areca nut requires drying technology in its operational activities. Optimization of equipment or technology, of course, requires electricity.

"We are ready to provide reliable electricity so that an increase in crop yields can be achieved. In addition, we also welcome the opportunity to develop electrifying agriculture which may be applied to this betel nut farming activity," he said in an official statement, Sunday, April 10.

Hanfi said that the reliability of PLN's electricity in Jambi City in supporting efforts to export betel nuts had been tested during President Jokowi's direct release of betel nuts.

Furthermore, Hanfi said PLN had prepared reliable electricity by prioritizing the electricity network to the location of the export of areca nuts, the Angso Duo Market area, Kedaton Temple, and the Bedug Market Jalan Asaat which became the focal point of the president's visit and his staff.

Not only that, the PLN team has also prepared a generator backup scheme as an effort to anticipate disturbances and alert the emergency team to be able to act quickly.

"The success of this event is also our commitment to provide the best service for customers. Moreover, this betel nut exporter is a customer with a power of 164 kVa and the event is also held at the national level where the President is directly involved," he said.