Admitting There Are Obstacles, PT Poso Energy Has Completed Compensation For Affected Farmers

Illustration of PLTA Poso phase 2 ready to operate to support the improvement of the New Renewable Energy (EBT) mix in Indonesia. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - PT Poso Energy stated that the payment of compensation to hundreds of farmers affected by the construction of the Hydroelectric Power Plant (PLTA) in Tentena, Poso Regency, Central Sulawesi Province, has been completed.

"As we have said some time ago, in early June we have completed compensation to farmers whose land has been affected by the company's activities in 17 villages," said PT Poso Energy Public Relations Agus Syamsi to reporters, Tuesday, June 14.

He explained that the compensation payment was carried out in two stages, starting in 2021 and ending in 2022, which is a short-term response that has become the company's commitment to resolve this issue.

However, Agus admits that there are obstacles that occur due to farmers' dissatisfaction with company policies.

His party claimed that the compensation payment was in accordance with standards that had been jointly determined, namely regarding the analysis of hydrological and climatological data for lakes and rivers in Poso from 1972 to 2019, studies of topographic maps, land use maps, and monitoring of 50 centimeter resolution satellite imagery for the 2019 period. -2022.

"Payments are adjusted according to predetermined standards. For farmers in Meko Village, payments have been completed on June 3 to 78 farmers, accompanied by the signing of the minutes and witnessed by the local village head," said Agus.

It also ensures that there are no attempts to coerce farmers into receiving compensation.

On the other hand, the company has embraced the farmers around Lake Poso. The company, which operates in the electrical energy sector, pays compensation to the farmers of around Rp. 13 billion for the second phase.

"There is no pressure whatsoever, this is purely the company's responsibility for the residents affected by our activities. Our activities in Lake Poso are to fulfill electrical energy which is a long-term need," said Agus.