VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

People expect good air quality to support their daily activities. One of the efforts made by the government to increase the quality of air is by building Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system.

The MRT is expected to reduce congestion in the capital. The decline in congestion would reduce air pollution.

The MRT is also expected to encourage more people to shift from private vehicles to using public transportation services.

Executive director of the Committee for Leaded Gasoline Eradication (KPBB), Ahmad Syafrudin, remarked that the 16-kilometer phase 1 of the MRT, from Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta to the Hotel Indonesia (HI) traffic circle in Central Jakarta, could reduce emissions to 85,680 tons of carbon dioxide per year.

The figure is obtained by taking into account the carbon dioxide emissions from 175 thousand people who cross phase 1 of the MRT.

Some 175 thousand people who cross phase 1 of the MRT contributed 171,360 tons of carbon dioxide per year. Around 64,260 tons of carbon dioxide came from motorbikes and 107,100 tons of carbon dioxide from cars.

Hence, the MRT becomes a new hope for people who want to breathe cleaner air and enjoy the blue sky in Jakarta. (ant) 

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Monday was on a working visit to Cilacap, Central Java, to inaugurate Karangkandri steam power plant and present land certificates to local residents.

Jokowi departed from Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, East Jakarta, by a helicopter of the Indonesian Air Force, on Monday at 8 a.m. local time.

Upon arrival in Cilacap at 8:35 a.m. local time, the President and his entourage were greeted by Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo.

They later proceeded to Kuwasen Village, Karangkandri, Kesugihan Sub-district, to officiate the steam power plant.

Following the inauguration ceremony, President Jokowi proceeded to Pertamina building to hand over Family of Hope Program assistance and land certificates to local residents.

Members of the presidential entourage included Minister/State Secretary Pratikno, Social Affairs Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasastima, Agrarian and Land Spatial Minister/Chairman of the National Agrarian Agency Sofyan Djalil, Chief of the Presidential Secretariat Heru Budi Hartono, Presidential Military Secretary Trisno Hendradi, and Commander of the Presidential Guards Major General Maruli Simanjuntak. (ANTARA)

President Joko Widodo inaugurated the operation of the first phase of the 1x660 MW Cilacap Steam Power Plant (PLTU). The inauguration took place in Kesugihan District, Cilacap Regency, Central Java, on Monday, February 25, 2019.

The president said that the ​​38.28 hectare power plant would later be able to supply additional electricity for industries and households in Java.

"I really appreciate the steam power plant in Cilacap. This large, 660 MW, thus increasing supply, especially in Java both for industry and shortages in households," he said.

The issue of meeting electricity needs has indeed been one of the government's focuses over the past few years. The president said, four years ago, a shortage of electricity supply was usually experienced by regions in eastern Indonesia and a number of other remote areas.

"If you see in eastern Indonesia, in remote islands, in our remote villages, there are still many electricity that have not been available for four years," he said.

However, the government seeks to meet the demand for electricity throughout the country. Based on data received by the President, currently the national electrification ratio has reached 98.2 percent. This means that, unlike four years ago, more and more households have now enjoyed electricity connections.

"The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources has promised that at the end of this year, 99.9 percent all households in this country must have electricity," the President said.

To note, the Cilacap PLTU Expansion which was inaugurated by the President consists of two stages. The first phase with a capacity of 1x660 MW was completed and the President has inaugurated it and was expected to be able to serve additional new customers of up to 682,000 customers from household groups.

While for the second stage, the construction is expected to be completed sooner than the target. The construction of the second phase of the Cilacap power plant with a capacity of 1x1,000 MW will be completed by the end of 2019.

"There is still 1,000 MW remaining which will also be completed later this year. The Managing Director has told me that this seems to be able to progress in one year. It should be 2020 but maybe God willing, we can finish it later this year," said the President.

With an additional 1x1,000 MW the government through the State Electricity Company (PLN) will be able to provide more electricity supply to the people of Indonesia.

Also present accompanying the President were Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ignasius Jonan, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno, Minister of State Pratikno, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning / Head of BPN Sofyan Djalil, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, and Cilacap Regent Tatto Suwarto Pamuji .(Release Biro Pers)