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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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March
Fifth batch of Sinovac vaccine arrives in Indonesia
Written by Nur Yasmin
Mar. 3 - Vice Health Minister Dante Saksono said Indonesia has received the fifth batch of COVID-19 vaccines from China's Sinovac Biotech.
"Alhamdulillah (thank God), today we got 10 million (doses of the) bulk vaccine. This bulk vaccine is raw material that Bio Farma will turn into (ready-to-use) vaccines," he said at an online press briefing in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The first and second batches of the vaccine received from Sinovac comprised 1.2 million and 1.8 million doses of ready-to-use vaccines, respectively, while the third and fourth batches comprised 15 million and 10 million doses of semi-finished vaccines, respectively.
Indonesia has received 38 million vaccine doses from the Chinese biopharmaceutical firm since the time the first batch arrived in the country on December 6 last year.
The government plans to use the vaccines to support a mass free vaccination program targeting 181.5 million of the country’s total population of 267 million.
"Another 185 million (doses of the) vaccine from Sinovac will be delivered in stages," Saksono informed.
Bio Farma, which has secured a certificate of good drug production from the Food and Drug Control Agency (BPOM), will process the bulk Sinovac vaccines to make finished vaccines.
Indonesia has ordered COVID-19 vaccines from several sources: 125 million doses from China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd; 100 million doses from US-Canada's Novavax; 100 million doses from UK’s AstraZeneca; 100 million doses from Germany-US' Pfizer; and, 16-100 million doses of free vaccines from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) through multilateral cooperation. (Antaranews)
March
Papua plans to review govt's investment permit for liquor industry
Written by Nur Yasmin
Mar. 2 - The Papua provincial administration hinted on Monday that it would review the Indonesian government's decision to open investment in the liquor industry in the province.
The implementation of the Presidential Regulation (No.10/2021) would be adjusted to Papua's conditions, the Papua provincial government's secretary, Doren Wakerkwa, said.
"We have had special regional regulation No.13/2015 so the presidential regulation will be adjusted to the characteristics of respective regions," he told journalists here.
Papua Governor Lukas Enembe's directives have revealed that it is better for the province to be free from liquor for the sake of ensuring secure and comfortable lives for its people, he said.
Hence, the proposal for opening investment in the liquor industry in Papua would be adjusted as per the provincial government's authority, he added.
President Joko Widodo signed the Presidential Regulation (No.10/2021) on Investment on February 2, 2021, opening up investment in the alcoholic beverages industry in the provinces of Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, North Sulawesi, and Papua.
Filep Wamafma, a member of the Regional Representatives' Council (DPD) who represents West Papua's electoral area, made an earnest request to President Widodo to revoke the investment permit.
"We appeal to Mr. President to revoke the government's investment permit for the alcoholic beverages industry in Papua," he stated in a press statement issued on Saturday.
He warned of a spike in crime rate following liquor intake in the country's easternmost province.
The presidential regulation has been issued as a follow-up to the job creation law passed by the House of Representatives (DPR) last year.
"Referring to the presidential regulation, the liquor industry may obtain investment from both foreign and domestic investors," Wamafma stated.
Investment in the liquor industry could also come from cooperative units and small and medium enterprises, he remarked.
ANTARA has earlier reported on how alcohol consumption remains a grave problem in Papua in spite of a ban on the production, distribution, and sale of liquor in the province since 2016.
The consumption of alcoholic beverages is believed to have contributed to the shortened life expectancy of native Papuans. (Antaranews)
March
Tourist arrivals in Jakarta plunge 94% in one month
Written by Nur Yasmin
Mar. 2 - The number of foreign tourists visiting Jakarta dived 94.3 percent to 1,244 in January, 2021 from 21,858 in December, 2020, chief of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) Office in Jakarta, Buyung Airlangga, said.
“Compared to the same month last year, the number of tourist arrivals in January, 2021 also plummeted 99.28 percent,” he said during an online press conference on Monday.
South Korea (90) led in the number of tourist arrivals in January, 2021, followed by Saudi Arabia (66), China (61), the United States (52) and Japan (44).
The top five sources of tourist arrivals in Jakarta also changed compared to the previous month.
In January, 2021, South Korea overtook China, which has regularly dominated tourist arrivals in the capital.
Saudi Arabia replaced Russia as the second biggest source of tourist arrivals.
The US remained in the fourth place, while Japan replaced Ukraine to take the fifth spot. (Antaranews)
March
Indonesian soldiers offer mobile health services to villagers in Papua
Written by Nur Yasmin
Mar. 2 - Indonesian soldiers stationed at Skamto security post, which is located near the border with Papua New Guinea, provided mobile health services in Yowong village, Arso Barat sub-district, Keerom district, Papua province on Sunday.
Personnel from the Indonesia-PNG Border Security Task Force visited villagers' homes and provided treatment to those in need of medical services, the task force's commanding officer, Major Anggun Wuriyanto, said in a statement issued here on Monday.
The soldiers who took part in the community service belonged to the Mechanic Raider 413/Bremoro Infantry Battalion of the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Konstrad).
The mobile health services, which were provided several days prior to the end of their deployment at the Skamto security post, were part of borderless community services for villagers, Wuriyanto said.
"We continue doing our best to serve the residents in our endeavor to make Papua healthy and prosperous," he added.
The healthcare services were not only offered to native Papuans in Keerom, but also in other areas.
Last week, several personnel from the 756/WMS Infantry Battalion's security task force had offered mobile health services to residents of Beanekogom village, Tembagapura sub-district, Mimika district.
According to the task force's commander, Major Marolop Edison Bala Hutapea, such health services are being provided routinely as part of the task force's community services to ensure that locals remain in good health.
"The TNI (the Indonesian Military) is mindful of the difficulties faced by the residents," he remarked, adding that he has constantly reminded soldiers stationed at all security posts to maintain an emotional connect with locals.
Sincerity in conducting community services and tending to the needs of local communities would make the TNI security posts useful to them, according to Hutapea.
Tsinga security post's commanding officer, Second Lieutenant Riyanto, who led the provision of mobile health services in Beanekogom village, revealed that the task force's medical team tended to villagers ailing from minor illnesses and looking for medical consultation.
A villager, Abdon Nenotek, expressed his gratitude to the task force and commended the members for offering the mobile health services to him and other villagers and for edifying them on ways to lead a healthy life and maintain cleanliness in the village. (Antaranews)
March
Police arrests resident on charge of igniting fire on 5 ha of land
Written by Nur Yasmin
Mar. 1 - West Kalimantan Police have arrested a resident of Kubu Raya District on charge of igniting land fire in Bansir Laut Village of Pontianak, West Kalimantan.
"The suspect was arrested on Saturday (Feb 27) not far from his land and is detained at West Kalimantan Police headquarters for further legal process," an official of the West Kalimantan Police' special crime unit Adjunct Senior Commissioner Sardo Mangatur Pardamean Sibarani said in a statement here on Sunday.
The suspect identified by his initials as SB (41) allegedly burned his land to clear it for farming on February 22 but the fire spread uncontrollably to the neighboring land.
"After setting fire to his 10 x 20 meter land, the suspect left his land and the fire spread to other farmers' land. The fire consumed some five hectares of land," Sardo said.
SB wrapped an inner tube on a stick and ignited the fire. He added some woods to the fire and left the land.
Unfortunately, the fire has spread uncontrollably to other farmers' land in the village.
The police has questioned SB in the investigation of the case.
Pontianak administration has declared state of alert of land and forest fire after haze started to cover some parts of the city in the last week of February due to land fire.
Pontianak Mayor Edi Rusdi Kamtono said his administration has established a task force of land and forest fire prevention in the city.
"The team has involved various parties including the military and police, Pontianak municipality administration, and the public including private fire fighters," he said. (Antaranews)
March
Vaccination in mutual cooperation must be free of charge: Minister
Written by Nur Yasmin
Mar. 1 - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin reiterated that COVID-19 vaccination in mutual cooperation by companies should be provided free of charge for employees and their family members.
"It should be given for free. The mutual cooperation vaccine would be provided by companies, they will seek the vaccine, and it should be free for all employees and their family members," Sadikin said in a virtual press conference here on Sunday.
The vaccination in mutual cooperation is stipulated in article 7 of the Health Minister Regulation no. 10/2021 on vaccination to handle COVID-19 pandemic.
The type of COVID-19 vaccine used in the vaccination must be different from those used in the government's vaccination program to avoid any disturbance in national vaccine distribution.
It should be approved by the National Food and Drug Control (BPOM) with the issuance of emergency use authorization (EUA) and distribution license number.
The Health Ministry has set four COVID-19 vaccines to be used in its massive vaccination program namely Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, dan Novavac. The four vaccine have arrived in Indonesia.
"The vaccine (used in mutual cooperation vaccination) cannot be the same hence there is no competition in supply. We should ensure that (companies) would get the supply of vaccine other than the four vaccine used by the government in its program," the minister elaborated.
The implementation of vaccinations in mutual cooperation by companies is part of the efforts to expedite the implementation of immunization for more than 181 million Indonesians, to complete in 12 months from its previous target of completion in 15 months.
Innovation and collaboration between the government, private sector and the public would help accelerating the vaccination. One of the innovation in vaccination program is drive thru vaccination in Nusa Dua, Bali, he said.
"The more people participate in the program, the faster we can reach herd immunity. Indonesia has a remarkable social capital. This time we fight against the pandemic. Together we can get through this," he said. (Antaranews)
March
Ministry develops sustainable food estate to maintain security
Written by Nur Yasmin
Mar. 1 - The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) is carrying out the development and management of sustainable food estate in an effort to maintain national food security.
Minister of Public Works and Public Housing, Basuki Hadimuljono, said that the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned of a food crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "In order to face this challenge, the ministry is implementing sustainable food estate development and management to increase food security while supporting national economic recovery by providing jobs for people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic," said Minister Hadimuljono in a statement received in Jakarta, Sunday.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ministry continued to strive to achieve infrastructure development targets to help national economic recovery through the increase of state spending, he said.
One of the infrastructure developments carried out during the pandemic was the development and management of the food estate.
The ministry is currently developing a food estate covering an area of 165,000 hectares in Pulang Pisau District and Kapuas District in the province of Central Kalimantan.
Additionally, food estate developments have also been programmed in North Sumatra, South Sumatra, East Nusa Tenggara and Papua.
Minister Hadimuljono said that food estate developments were carried out under President Joko Widodo's directives as a priority to safeguard the Indonesian sovereignty and improve the welfare of the Indonesian people through national food security.
He further explained that a number of challenges were faced in the process of the development, including water management, community economy, environment, institutions and financing.
“The location for the development of each food estate has different characters and challenges. In Central Kalimantan we are revitalizing the former site of one million hectare peatland project PLG) which is not peatland, but rather, it is alluvial, covering an area of 165,000 hectares. It all requires very detailed and accurate water management. Here we prioritize drainage management so that the land is not inundated and can be planted," he explained.
Meanwhile, he continued, in North Sumatra and East Nusa Tenggara where the lands are more dry, the focus is on irrigation using a gun sprinkler. It takes thoughts and collaboration from various sectors to find the right solution that can be applied in the field. (Antaranews)
February
Data confirms 1.6 million Indonesians inoculated against COVID-19
Written by nuke
Indonesian Health Minister, Budi Gunadi Sadikin with East Java Governor, Khofifah Indar parawansa - ANT
As of Saturday, 1,616,165 people in Indonesia were inoculated against COVID-19, or an increase of 32,584 recipients, from the earlier day.
According to data from the COVID-19 Handling Task Force on Saturday, as many as 982,370 people out of 1,461,920 individuals have received the second dose of vaccination, up by 116,500, from the count on the previous day.
The 1.6 million people comprised healthcare workers, public service officers, elderly people, journalists, teachers, and athletes.
Indonesia has commenced the COVID-19 vaccination campaign since January 13, 2021, with the administration of China's Sinovac vaccine and priority being accorded to 1,468,764 healthcare workers. Public service officers, legal enforcers, and elderly people would next be given priority.
The country's total vaccination target is 181,554,465 people, or some 70 percent of Indonesia's population, in order to create herd immunity against the COVID-19 virus.The government has begun the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination program on February 17, 2021, with focus on traders at the Tanah Abang wholesale market, Central Jakarta.
To expedite the vaccination campaign, the Health Ministry has issued Ministerial Regulation No. 10 of 2021 on the vaccination program to be implemented in cooperation with companies willing to bear the vaccine costs for their employees.
The government announced its first confirmed COVID-19 cases on March 2, 2020.
As of Saturday (Feb 27, 2021), the tally of COVID-19 cases had reached 1,329,074, up by 6,208, from the previous day.
Indonesia recorded a total of 1,136,054 recoveries and death toll at 35,981 so far//ANT
February
COVID-19: Over 2.4 million Indonesians vaccinated so far
Written by nuke
Indonesian badminton athlete Muhammad Rian Ardianto prepares for COVID-19 vaccination at Gelora Bung Karno stadium, Jakarta on Friday (Feb 26, 2021). ANTARA/HO-PBSI
A total of 2,449,451 Indonesians have been vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Friday afternoon, as part of the first and second phases of the vaccination program, according to the Task Force for COVID-19 Handling.
The number of people vaccinated under the first phase of the program increased by 121,661 to reach 1,583,581 on Friday. Meanwhile, inoculations under the second phase of the program rose by 12,125 to touch 865,870.
The two phases are targeting healthcare workers and public service officers.
A total of 1,468,764 healthcare workers across Indonesia are expected to be vaccinated under the first phase of the vaccination program.
The government has set a target of inoculating 181,554,465 people, or 70 percent of the total population of Indonesia, with the aim of building herd immunity against the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, Indonesia on Friday added 8,232 coronavirus infections, 7,261 recoveries, and 268 deaths over a single day, the Task Force for COVID-19 Handling reported.With this, the total tally of cases in the country rose to 1,322,855, while total recoveries reached 1,128,672, and the death toll climbed to 35,786. The first COVID-19 infections emerged in the country in March, 2020.
In the 24 hours ending at 12 p.m. WIB (Western Indonesian Time) on Friday, a total of 63,827 specimens from 39,766 people were tested in 670 laboratories across the country, bringing the cumulative number of examined specimens to 10,708,262 from 7,141,629 people//ANT
February
Feb. 26 - The Financial Services Authority (OJK) is advocating the transformation of Islamic banking, which is facing several challenges currently, including a dearth of business models or product differentiation besides a lack of sufficient and quality human resources.
"So that later every customer who is banking on sharia can choose products with better quality," chief executive of OJK banking supervision, Heru Kristiyana, explained at the virtual launch of the Islamic Banking Development Roadmap 2020-2025 in Jakarta on Thursday.
He urged Islamic banks to launch a variety of products without abandoning sharia principles.
Kristiyana, who is also a member of the OJK board of commissioners, admitted to HR challenges every time there is a change of leadership in sharia banking.
"It is difficult for OJK to find the top leadership when it carries out a fit and proper test,” he remarked.
"We, in the supervisory and licensing system, have a very hard time to find human resources who can assume the leadership of sharia banking," he said, adding that OJK needs the support of the Islamic banking association to resolve the issue of human resources.
According to OJK, low sharia literacy and inclusion index as well as inadequate digitalization are also posing a challenge to the sector.
For this reason, the OJK said, it is encouraging Islamic banks to launch unique products, optimize the Islamic economic and financial ecosystem, integrate commercial and social finance functions, and develop quality human resources and technology.
In 2020, Islamic banking showed a positive performance, including the distribution of financing, which reached Rp394.6 trillion as of December, 2020, a growth of 8.08 percent compared to the same period of 2019, the OJK noted.
In addition, third-party funds collected reached Rp475.5 trillion, up 11.8 percent, and the number of non-performing loans fell to 3.08 percent from 3.11 percent recorded in the previous year.
Meanwhile, total Islamic financial assets, excluding Islamic stocks, were valued at Rp1,802.86 trillion, registering a growth of 22.79 percent.
In addition, the Islamic banking capital ratio increased to 21.59 percent from 20.59 percent recorded in 2019, with the Islamic banking market share reaching 9.89 percent. The share of conventional banking was pegged at 90.11 percent. (Antaranews)