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PLN Gradually Recovers Electricity Supply (0)
State-owned electricity firm PT PLN has recovered electric power to Balaraja Extra High Voltage substation in Banten Province, and furthermore it will be channeled to Suralaya steam-fueled power plant (PLTU) to gradually recover its operation to reach its capacity of 2800 MW of electricity.
In addition, power supply from Gandul Extra High Voltage substations in Depok, West Java Province, will be channeled to Muara Karang gas and steam power plant (PLTGU) to supply electricity to the Indonesian capital city, Jakarta.
Acting President Director of PLN Sripeni Inten Cahyani said here on Sunday that the power supply to Jakarta was expected to recover within three hours.
"We apologize for the inconvenience today, and currently all efforts have been made to recover the Java-Bali power system, especially in the area of West Java, Banten, and Jakarta," Cahyani said.
The company has focused on power supply to PLTGU Muara Karang and PLTGU Priok to recover the system in the capital city.
Previously, PLN has recovered the operation of hydro-generated power plant (PLTA) Saguling and PLTA Cirata which are functioned as power stabilizer, and, at the same time, supply the electricity to PLTU Suralaya through Cibinong, Depok, Gandul, Lengkok, Balaraja and Suralaya extra high voltage substations.
PLTU Suralaya is expected to return to its normal operation within six hours to normalize power system in West Java and Banten.
Blackout that affected thousands of homes and public facilities in West Java, Jakarta, and Banten was caused by several troubles in the extra high voltage 500 kV transmission of Ungaran - Pemalang.
"PLN has taken its best efforts and will have evaluation to prevent recurrence of today's incident," Cahyani said.
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August
Government targets 50 million monthly vaccinations from Sept
Written by Nur Yasmin
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has said the government is targeting to administer 50 million COVID-19 vaccine doses per month from September this year to meet the national vaccination target by January 2022.
“We did plan to complete vaccinations in a year. The President had initially asked to finish it in 15 months, but it was revised into 12 months,” he stated during an online press conference here on Tuesday.
After launching vaccinations on January 13, 2021, the government had set the target of administering 426 million doses by January 2022, he informed.
Vaccinations have reached just 50 million doses per month as of July 8, 2021, he added.
“So, from when we started in January until completing the inoculation of first 50 million doses as of July 2021, it required 26 weeks,” he noted.
The ministry is making efforts to administer the next 50 million vaccine doses by August 31, 2021, according to Sadikin.
“So, the first 50 million doses ran for 26 weeks, the next 50 million doses in seven weeks (ending August 31), and we are keen on meeting the target of 50 million doses to be accomplished in six weeks, hopefully in four weeks,” he said.
If the administration of 50 million doses requires four weeks in a month, the target of 1.3-1.4 million doses per day can be met, he pointed out.
“But if we can complete the 50 million doses of vaccine in four weeks, meanwhile, we have targeted 100 million doses in August and we have four months of September, October, November, December. If in those four months, we can achieve 50 million doses per month on average, we can obtain as many as 200 millions of additional doses,” he expounded.
If the strategy can be applied, 300 million doses, or 70 percent of the total 426 million doses, can be administered by the end of 2021, he said.
“If we see the rate of the first 50 million doses to be completed in 26 weeks, the next 50 million doses are targeted to be finished in seven weeks. We will see in September whether we can increase from 100 million to 200 million of doses,” he remarked. (Antaranews)
August
Agriculture to be Indonesia's future strength: minister
Written by Nur Yasmin
Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo has said that the agricultural sector, considering its enormous potential, will become Indonesia's strength in the future.
“If we wish to develop this nation, agriculture is the most prepared sector. We already have the resources. However, we have to quickly catch up in every aspect," he remarked while giving a public lecture at the Agricultural Development Polytechnic, Bogor, West Java, according to a statement received here on Tuesday.
The digital era has significantly encouraged the acceleration of Indonesia's agricultural development, he noted.
“Nowadays, we can virtually have a meeting although we are in different places. It indicates a change of era. In this era, our agriculture can improve better than previous eras because everything has been facilitated digitally,” he explained.
He also encouraged millennials to leave the old mindset of farming. “The past paradigm is not relevant anymore. If we do not change, we will be left behind and lose," the minister remarked.
There are several criteria that millennial farmers must meet in order to be successful in the sector, he informed. The first one is that millennial farmers have to associate well with nature, humans, and science, he said.
"For instance, in promoting exports, we have to be connected to international markets and interact with other countries," he added.
Furthermore, millennial farmers have to be able to compete fairly, Limpo said. In order to create a good competitive environment, fellow farmers should not pull each other down, he added.
Millennial farmers also need to be critical and have firm commitment, the minister said.
“We can get a lot of information by using digital technology. We only need to have the will and the spirit," he added.
Hence, he urged the millennial generation not to hesitate to become involved in the agricultural sector, saying farming has become easier and more efficient with the help of technology.
“Farming is now possible with gadgets, robot construction, and artificial intelligence. Farming can be done automatically with modern equipment,” he explained.
Meanwhile, head of the Agricultural Human Resources Training and Development Agency of the ministry, Dedi Nursyamsi, said he hoped that the polytechnic students could provide more jobs as millennial farmer entrepreneurs.
"The students have to be able to recruit local people to take part in the agricultural sector together,” he added. (Antaranews)
August
Health Ministry: Third vaccine dose for health workers only
Written by Nur Yasmin
Spokesperson for the Health Ministry's COVID-19 Vaccination Siti Nadia Tarmizi stressed the third vaccine dose or booster shot will only be available to health workers, in line with the recommendations of the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI).
"The public will not get the third vaccine dose," she affirmed, during an online press conference held on Monday.
Tarmizi said the Moderna vaccine, which has become the booster shot for health workers, can now also be given to the unvaccinated public but with certain requirements.
"Vaccines are only given to the public for the first and second doses. Only health workers directly working in health facilities can receive a third dose," she again stressed.
Vaccines are utilized to meet the needs of two doses while considering several conditions, she added.
Firstly, the vaccine contains a frozen suspension with one vial containing a maximum of 15 doses (IP=14), and secondly, it is given at two doses (@ 0.5 ml) to those aged 18 and over through intramuscular injection at an interval of four weeks from the first to the second doses, Tarmizi explained.
The delivered vaccines should be directly divided into the first and second doses, with the first dose being stored in a refrigerator at a predetermined temperature, she further said.
"Matters related to the management of cold chain and vaccination services should be implemented in accordance with technical instructions, provisions and regulations," she pointed out.
In addition to the third dose for health workers and various types of vaccines for the public, Tarmizi said the ministry issued a circular to speed up the vaccination drive and reach as many people as possible.
This process will start with the vaccination of children aged 12 to 17 with the Sinovac vaccine, followed by the vaccination of pregnant women, to the screening form adjustment, she noted.
The acceleration of the vaccination campaign is also supported by many parties, including the private sector. "We cooperate with the private sector to manage vaccination centers and provide shuttle services via online taxis," she said. (antaranews)
August
Health Ministry: 88 million doses vaccine doses provided to community
Written by Nur Yasmin
Siti Nadia Tarmizi, Spokesperson for COVID-19 Vaccination at the Indonesian Ministry of Health, said around 88 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been provided to Indonesia’s target population from early August 2021.
"Of the 400 million vaccine doses needed, almost 25 percent have been provided," she stated, during her health broadcast released on YouTube by RRI Net Official here on Monday.
Tarmizi noted there are currently six brands of vaccines available in the country, with five being produced by foreign manufacturers and one domestically made. The vaccines include Sinovac, Moderna, Sinopharm, Pfizer and AstraZeneca, as well as the Bio Farma vaccine.
Tarmizi stressed Indonesia received its first batch of Pfizer vaccines on Thursday, 19th August, numbering 1.5 million doses out of the 50 million ordered.
"In addition, we have received 450,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses. On Friday, 20th August, we received an additional 500,000 AstraZeneca vaccines, completing the number of vaccine doses required to inoculate our target of 208 million people," she further said.
Indonesia has a secure supply of COVID-19 vaccines, totaling 170 million doses received, with some being used to vaccinate target categories, she further added.
Tarmizi stated the government is continuing to work hard to accelerate the second phase of its vaccination campaign, which targets people over the age of 12.
"This is no different from the first phase, which had its priorities, but now those over the age of 12 can also get vaccinated," she further said.
The increase in the number of vaccines in the country also encourages the efforts to vaccinate the general public, which is expected to reach 2 million doses per day, she explained.
"The number of vaccines we are receiving is increasing. Previously, it was only 10 million, 15 million, 20 million doses, but in August 2021, we will receive a total of 70 million vaccine doses, of which we can use approximately 40 to 30 million," she confirmed.
In September 2021, Indonesia will again receive the same amount of vaccine shipments, and even up to December 2021, it could reach 80 million doses, she stressed, concluding, "This will become important. As soon as the vaccine is available, we must increase the doses injected per day." (Antaranews)
August
Rp11.1 trillion projects ran during pandemic in Jakarta
Written by Nur Yasmin
Nearly 382 work packages with a budget ceiling of Rp11.1 trillion were still running in Jakarta during the COVID-19 pandemic until August 18, 2021, the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) has noted. "All packages are running because there is a mandate from the Minister of Home Affairs' Instruction that construction activities are critical and can operate 100 percent," Director of Construction Services Development of the PUPR Ministry Putut Marhayudi said in a discussion about construction during the pandemic here on Monday.
The value of the budget ceiling of the work package in Jakarta was around 8.5 percent of the total budget ceiling throughout Indonesia which reached Rp130.22 trillion with 5,362 work packages, he explained.
The categories of work packages include construction work, consulting services and other services and goods.
"The number of packages is quite large in conditions such as these. We must pay attention together because we are still in a pandemic situation. There are still public activity restrictions that affect the implementation of work in the field," he said.
In addition, the handling of the COVID-19 emergency hospital was also conducted through five hospitals in Jakarta out of a total of 33 in several cities in Indonesia.
The 33 hospitals added a capacity of 2,811 hospital beds and 5,989 beds in isolation rooms.
Putut Marhayudi hoped that the spending would boost the community's economic growth to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is one of the priority efforts to accelerate economic recovery and social reform.
"We must ensure that state spending related to infrastructure development can contribute to positive growth for the community's economy," he said. (Antaranews)
August
Bali's Ngurah Rai airport has imposed PCR test price cap at Rp495,000
Written by Nur Yasmin
State-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I disclosed that the authority of Ngurah Rai International Airport in the resort island of Bali has imposed a newly-standardized price cap for individually-requested PCR tests at Rp495,000.
The price cap for these real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests has been made effective since August 19, 2021, PT AP I General Manager at Ngurah Rai International Airport Herry A.Y. Sikado said.
Ngurah Rai International Airport which is located in Badung District or about 13 km away from Denpasar, the capital of Bali Province, is one of 13 airports managed by AP I in central and eastern parts of Indonesia.
The airport authority imposes this newly-standardized price ceiling for the RT-PCR tests to follow up on the Health Ministry's circular No.02.02/I/2845/2021 dated on August 16, 2021, he said here Saturday.
The price ceiling is expected to help minimize air passengers' expenses, and have a positive impact on the air transport services, he said.
The RT-PCR tests are served to travelers at the domestic arrival terminal's public area as a result of the airport authority's collaboration with the Bali Jimbaran Public Hospital, he said.
The airport's COVID-19 testing booth also serves those in need of rapid antigen tests by paying Rp200,000. Both the PCR and antigen test results have been integrated into the Health Ministry's PeduliLindungi App.
Sikado urges travelers wanting to take the COVID-19 swab and antigen tests to consider their flight schedules.
President Joko Widodo had recently requested that the ceiling for individually-requested PCR tests be set at between Rp450 thousand and Rp550 thousand.
He had also asked that the results of swab tests be issued within 24 hours of testing.
The government's price cap for individually-requested PCR tests was earlier set at Rp900 thousand.
Following the President's request, the Health Ministry issued Circular Letter No.HK.02.02/I/2845/2021 on the new RT-PCR test price ceiling on August 16, 2021.
The ministry's circular has capped the price for individually-requested RT-PCR tests at Rp495 thousand in Java and Bali and Rp525 thousand in regions outside the two islands.
ANTARA had earlier reported that the government had set the price cap for individually-requested PCR tests at Rp900 thousand, and rapid antigen tests at Rp250 thousand for the island of Java and Rp275 thousand for areas outside Java.
Coronavirus infections initially emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019, and then spread to various parts of the world, including to countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Indonesian government announced the country's first confirmed cases on March 2, 2020.
Since then, the central and regional governments have made persistent efforts to flatten the coronavirus curve by imposing healthcare protocols as well as social and travel restrictions. (Antaranews)
August
Govt intensifies vaccination to achieve herd immunity: SOE minister
Written by Nur Yasmin
State-owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir asserted that the government would continue to intensify COVID-19 vaccination in a bid to achieve national herd immunity.
"As you can see, the government has done its utmost to speed up vaccination program to achieve herd immunity. We continue to intensify (the vaccination)," Thohir said in a statement obtained here.
The minister has observed three vaccination centers in Central Java and East Java opened simultaneously on Sunday.
The government, he said, has involved the military and police, state-owned enterprises, and local administrations in the vaccination drives.
He called on the public to give positive response to the efforts to stem COVID-19 transmission by participating in the mass vaccination.
Some cabinet ministers presented in the occasion including Minister of State Secretary Pratikno and Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi.
The "Merdeka" vaccination drive in Cepu, Central Java, has involved state-owned companies PT Pertamina, Jasa Raharja and Telkom as well as Central Java's Transportation Office, the Brawijaya Military Command, and the Central Java Police.
Two other vaccination centers are in Bojonegoro, East Java, that involved state-owned port and harbour services company Pelindo III, East Java Transportation Office, and Brawijaya Military Command.
"The involvement of the central government, state-owned companies, and other institutions is a form of common responsibilities in line with President Joko Widodo's guidance," Thohir said.
As many as 15 thousand vaccines were prepared for mass vaccination in the three locations.
The centers would serve local residents including senior citizens and students, as well as workers at public service offices and Cepu oil and gas wells.
The government has targeted to curb the COVID-19 virus effective reproduction number (Rt) to less than one and positivity rate to below five percent. (Antaranews)
August
Jakarta classified as COVID-19 green zone: Deputy Governor
Written by Nur Yasmin
Deputy Governor of Jakarta Ahmad Riza Patria said the capital city has been classified as COVID-19 green zone, following the declining number of COVID-19 cases and acceleration of vaccination drive.
"Alhamdulillah (Thank God) Jakarta has entered the green zone and achieved herd immunity. However, we ask for all residents to remain discipline in implementing health protocols," he said while observing the vaccination drive in South Jakarta's Al-Azhar Grand Mosque, Sunday.
Even though Jakarta has been classified as a green zone, he said, the public must remain consistent in implementing strict health protocols in order to prevent an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.
Furthermore, residents who have not been vaccinated are also asked to immediately get the vaccine at the nearest vaccination center, so that the target could be achieved.
He further said that the provincial government is currently seeking to increase the vaccination target to 11 million, from initially 8.8 million people, considering that some 40 percent of non-Jakarta residents got their vaccine shots in the capital city.
The target is expected to be reached within the next few weeks, he added.
Based on data from corona.jakarta.go.id, as of Sunday at 1 p.m. Western Indonesia time, the number of active cases in Jakarta reached 8,764, indicating a decrease of 44 people from the previous day.
The number is expected to continue to decline hence public activities in the city can return to normal soon.
"Stay at home. Maintain discipline and abide by the level 4 mobility restrictions with a full sense of responsibility. Make health protocols part of our daily need,” he said. (Antaranews)
August
Communication Ministry shares tips on filtering hoaxes
Written by nuke
Communication Ministry shares tips on filtering hoaxes -
The Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo) has shared a number of tips for the public to filter and prevent the spread of hoaxes and disinformation in the digital space.
One trick to discern the validity of any information is to determine whether it is too good to be true or too bad to be true, the ministry's public information and communication director general, Usman Kansong, said in a press statement issued here on Saturday.
"That is what we need to be aware of. There are plenty of examples, like every time someone donates a large amount of aid, we need to be suspicious whether it is too good to be true," he explained.
While the suspicion may not yet be proven, at the very least, our internal alarm will be triggered, he said.
He also outlined another way to identify hoaxes.
"If there is a word, 'spread it', that is what we need to be wary of. Especially if it's written in all capital, that is what we need to be suspicious of. Do not just share without filtering it," he advised.
The director general also asked citizens to research the validity of any information through trusted official media or internet search engines.
"If nobody is reporting it, then it is not true. But we still need to check, recheck, and cross-check it with the mainstream media," he said.
According to Kansong, orchestration and single narratives have been optimized to prevent the spread of hoaxes and misleading information in the public.
However, citizens need to be taught the skill to be able to selectively filter information received through digital platforms, he said//ANT
August
Air Force's successful evacuation of Indonesians should be emulated
Written by nuke
Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo (Right) greets aviator corps and aircrew involved in the evacuation operation of Indonesian citizens in Afghanistan at the Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, Jakarta, Saturday, August 18, 2021. (ANTARA PHOTO/HO-Air Force's Enlightenment Office/KT) -
The Air Force's success in evacuating Indonesians from Afghanistan should be emulated by other members of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI), Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo stated here on Saturday.
Prasetyo remarked that Air Force units involved in the evacuation process had demonstrated professionalism despite little preparation time.
"I am very proud of all of you because with such quick preparation, you were able to show professionalism. This is a matter of pride for the soldiers, who successfully executed their operational duties and returned safely," Prasetyo stated at the apron of the Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase, as quoted from his written statement.
He expressed optimism that professionalism would be exemplified by other members of the Indonesian Air Force.
"Even in uncertain conditions, the soldiers can perform their operating duties very well. This should be an example for the others," he emphasized.
The humanitarian operation evacuated 26 Indonesian citizens along with five Filipino nationals and two Afghan nationals from Hamid Karzai Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, aboard a Military Air Force Boeing 737 series 400 Air Squadron 17 from the Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase. The evacuation aircraft was flying with a "Kencana (Gold) Zero Four" signal.
Meanwhile, soldiers of the Air Force involved in the evacuation belonged to the Specialized Force Corps of the Bravo Detachment 90.
The aircraft, carrying the evacuees, was flown by Lieutenant Colonel Aviator Corps Ludwig Bayu and Major Aviator Corps Mulyo and accompanied by six flight crew members on duty: Captain Aviator Corps Sang Made K Y, First Lieutenant Aviator Corps R P Pratama A, First Lieutenant Aviator Corps Andhika, Second Lieutenant of Engineering Suparno, Second Lieutenant of Engineering Yusuf Affandi, Second Lieutenant Andromeda, Chief Sergeant Priyan Wahyu, Chief Sergeant Riyan Agieta, Chief Sergeant Budi R, and First Private Yulio A.
Meanwhile, six members of the Specialized Force Corps of Bravo Detachment 90 were Captain Pas Galih Pinto Nugroho, Second Sergeant Trenggono, Second Sergeant Yudi Aji Widagdo, Second Corporal Umar Haris, Chief Private Aidil Artawijaya, and Chief Private Ilham Dwi Laksana.
The overall evacuation team comprised TNI (the Indonesian Defense Forces) soldiers, members of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), and the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The government decided to use military aircraft to repatriate dozens of Indonesian citizens in Afghanistan to ensure their safety and security, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated during a press conference at the Halim Perdanakusuma Airport here on Saturday.
The Air Force aircraft departed from the Halim Perdanakusuma Airport on August 18, 2021, at about 6:00 a.m. local time. However, the landing permit at the Hamid Karzai Airport in Kabul was only granted by local authorities on August 20, 2021.
The evacuation process took two hours, longer than the original 30-minute plan.
The route taken by the aircraft was from Jakarta to Aceh Province and then to Colombo in Sri Lanka followed by Karachi and thereafter transited at Islamabad in Pakistan before finally reaching Kabul, Afghanistan.
In Islamabad, evacuation teams waited long for permission to land at Kabul's Hamid Karzai Airport from local authorities.
During takeoff from the Hamid Karzai Airport, the plane landed again in Islamabad for refueling before returning home using the same route: Karachi, Colombo, Aceh, and Jakarta//ANT