State-owned electricity company PT PLN said it has electrified 10 remote villages in four districts of East Nusa Tenggara province between January and April this year.

"By electrifying the 10 villages located in remote areas, as many as 4,085 families who relied on oil lamp lighting can finally enjoy PLN electricity now," General Manager of PT PLN (NTT office) Agustinus Jatmiko said here on Monday.

The 10 villages comprise Kelaisi Tengah and Kelaisi Barat in Alor District, Golo Ketak, Mbuit, Golo Lewe, Sompang Kolang, Golo Lajang, and Pacar in West Manggarai District, Daha Elu in Central Sumba District, and Cendana in East Sumba District.

PLN spent Rp 8.2 billion on building supporting infrastructure for the implementation of the electrification project in the 10 villages, Jatmiko said.

PLN built, among other things, a medium voltage network (JTM) stretching 40.28 circuit km, a low voltage network (JTR) spanning 66.81 circuit km, and 11 substations with a total capacity of 550 kilo Volt Ampere (kVA), he added.

"This is a gift to welcome Easter and Eid for local people who celebrate," Jatmiko remarked.

He reiterated his company's commitment to electrifying more remote villages.

Meanwhile, PLN has said it is aiming to electrify 33 remote villages in East Kalimantan this year.

The 33 villages comprise 10 villages each in West Kutai and Paser, eight villages in Berau, four villages in East Kutai, and one village in Mahakam Ulu, PLN's Regional Business Director for Sumatra and Kalimantan Wiluyo Kusdwiharto said in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan Province on Sunday.

"These will include 5,400 new customers," he informed.

Of the targeted rural areas, 10 villages, or 1,924 new customers, began receiving power supply in April this year, he said.

For the development of the electricity network in the 10 villages, PLN invested Rp61 billion, or Rp31 million per customer, he informed.

"(The power supply networks in) 23 other villages are still under construction," he added. (Antaranews)