Bondowoso, East Java (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto has set a four-year deadline to achieve electrification for all Indonesian villages, urging cooperation from all parties, including the state electricity company and private sector partners, to help achieve the goal.
"Maybe less than four years, but my target is that all villages in Indonesia must be electrified in four years," the president told Kristosimus Yohanis Agawemu, Head of South Papua's Mappi District, stated via video conference here on Thursday.
While inaugurating the simultaneous operation of geothermal power plants (PLTP) and solar power plants (PLTS) across 15 provinces, Prabowo affirmed that the government will encourage the development of more solar power plants.
"We will electrify all villages throughout Indonesia as soon as possible. As President of Indonesia, I am resolute that we will help all villages enjoy electricity," he stated.
The president's remarks came in response to District Head Agawemu's report that over 60 villages in his region have no electricity supply. "We have about 162 villages, and 67 of them are not electrified," the district head remarked.
Agawemu then highlighted that the new solar power plant in Muin has improved the quality of life for residents in Muin and Madu villages in Obaa Sub-district, Mappi District, which the power plant serves.
The newly introduced electricity supply has helped bolster the local economy and enhanced school activities in the villages, he added.
"We express our gratitude and appreciation for all this progress that benefits our people in the land of Papua. Accept our greetings from Mappi, the region of a thousand swamps," he remarked.
Apart from encouraging the development of solar power plants, the government is also promoting the village economy through the "Red and White" village cooperatives, which will help distribute village products at the district and provincial levels, according to the president.
