VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The government will install 1.2 million new power connections free for the poor in 2019, according to Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan.

"There is a plan that the government would contribute some Rp6 trillion to install free power connections this year. The number is some 1.2 million connections, particularly for the poor," Jonan stated in Jakarta, Monday.

With the support of other sources, including the State Budget of the ministry and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds from state enterprises, the number of new power connections might increase, he added.  With funds from the ministry, there will be additional 100 thousand to 150 thousand connections, he noted.

Jonan stated that State Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno had also agreed to channel CSR funds from PLN, Bulog, Jamkrindo, Pegadaian, Semen Indonesia, Dahana, Perhutani, BRI, Pindad, Telkom, Telkomsel, BNI, Airnav, Askrindo, Waskita, PTPN III Holding (PTPN VIII), Jasa Marga, Jasa Raharja, Jasindo, Biofarma, KAI, Hutama Karya, Telkomsel, Pertamina, Mandiri, Angkasa Pura 2, Pelindo 2, BTN, PIHC, WIKA, PP, PGN, Antam, Taspen, ASDP, and POS, among other things.

He explained that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had instructed to provide new power connections for the poor in certain regions of the country.

"The thinking is not loss and profits, but better equitable development," he pointed out.

The government has set a target of achieving 99.9 percent electricity coverage in 2019, he remarked.

"I am optimistic that it will be achieved," Jonan added. (ant)

In a National Celebration of Chinese Lunar New Year on Sunday (11/2/2019) organized by the West Kalimantan Chinese Association in Jakarta, Indonesian Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi said that Indonesia is one, and West Kalimantan is part of Indonesia. Therefore West Kalimantan must be deveoped. The Indonesian government in collaboration with the private sector will build the first airport in Singkawang, West Kalimantan.

"I built Pontianak Airport a few years ago. And now it has been completed, it can be used. I was asked by our President to build other airports there. I will go to West Kalimantan, going to Singkawang, and conduct a groundbreaking of Singkawang Airport. This is the first airport to be jointly built by private companies with the government. So the private sector will participate in building it," said Budi Karya Sumadi.

Budi Karya Sumadi further hoped that West Kalimantan would develop and become an extraordinary cultural center. Meanwhile, Chairman of the West Kalimantan Chinese Association Presidium, Rudi Halim, appreciated the Indonesian government for recognizing the Chinese ethnic as one of ethnics in Indonesia by giving Chinese ethnic one day holiday. According to Rudi, this proves that all Indonesian citizens, including the Chinese, have the same rights and obligations before the law. (VOI / AHM)

Selinsing Village in East Belitung District of Bangka Belitung Islands Province has developed tin ore mining tours to improve local people's welfare.

"We hope that PT Timah Tbk could support development of this mining in miniature tour," Chief of Selinsing Village Enterprises (Bumdes) Muhammad Rais said in Selinsing on Sunday.

Bangka Belitung Islands is known as the world`s second largest tin producer. Tin ore mining in the area has operated for some three centuries, and development of the region is closely linked to mining sector.

"Development of the mining in miniature could provide tourists with better information on tin ore mining," he said, adding that currently the public received information on tin ore mining only from books and mass media.

"We will explain to the visiting tourists about good practices in mining which are environmental friendly, and they can directly see the mining activities as carried out by PT Timah Tbk," he said.

The tin mining in miniature would be divided into several areas including tin ore mining area, culinary area, water recreation, fishing area, and agro-tourism area.

"We have proposed the budget for development of this mining tourism to PT Timah Tbk, as the Bumdes only has limited fund for the project," Rais said. (ant)

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has installed 1,200 solar street lights in the districts of Gresik, Lamongan, Tuban and Bojonegoro, East Java Province.  Head of the Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities (SKK Migas) Dwi Sutjipto officially handed over the solar street lights in Gresik on Sunday. 

"Issues on infrastructure for the public have become the government`s main concern. Hence, we install the solar street lights to improve people's welfare," Dwi said.

Lamongan District received 450 units of solar street light, while Tuban and Bojonegoro Districts got 300 units each, and 150 others were given to Gresik.

"This would become a solution for the regions that have yet to enjoy electricity from PLN (state electricity firm), or those who want to reduce electricity consumption in their regions," he noted.

The installment of solar street lights has been part of the government's policy to transform the use of energy from conventional to renewable energy.. The local governments were expected to maintain the safety of infrastructure facilities, Dwi said.

The government, under the program, has targeted to provide street lighting in 26 provinces across the country. In East Java alone, throughout 2018, the ministry had installed the solar street lights in 3,288 locations.

"We have set a budget allocation of some Rp416 billion for the installment of solar street lights in 21,864 locations," he added.

From 2015 to 2018, the ministry had installed some 33 thousand solar street lights in provinces and districts. The use of solar panel would reduce pollution and cut consumption of electricity mainly sourced from fossil fuel. It could also be installed in regions that have yet to be reached by PLN. (ant)