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Santo Donatus Bhoanawa Church in Ende, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, is the first church in Indonesia to use interlocking bricks made from FABA as construction materials. (ANTARA/Fransiska Mariana Nuka/KT) - 

A church building in Ende City, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, stands strong.

The church was built of different brick materials. They are gray and slightly heavier, but when attached to the wall and put together with other stones, they become orderly.

The stones were interlocking bricks, an innovation for construction materials that are made of ashes from burned coal in the form of Fly Ash and Bottom Ash (FABA) at the Ropa Coal-Fired Power Plant in Ende.

Santo Donatus Bhoanawa at Ende is the first church in Indonesia to use interlocking bricks from FABA as construction materials.

Father Domi Nong, a Parish Priest of the Santo Donatus Bhoanawa Church, told ANTARA that he had received assistance of 52 thousand interlocking bricks produced at the Ropa Power Plant for the construction of the church. Some 60 percent of the materials used for the church's construction used the bricks recycled from coal waste.

"The ratio is 60:40. Hence, 40 percent of (the materials) are ordinary bricks, as (the construction) began in 2020 before knowing the existence of interlocking bricks. Now, everyone uses these bricks from FABA," Father Nong remarked.

When he received information regarding the brick innovation by state electricity firm PT PLN, Father Nong rushed to ready a proposal for construction assistance and departed for Maumere in Sikka District to meet with PLN's Generator Implementation Unit (UPK) Manager Flores Lambok Siregar.

The proposal was approved by PLN. In fact, the entire cost of transporting interlocking bricks from the Ropa Power Plant to Ende City was paid by PLN. Not only for building churches, but the interlocking bricks were also for renovating residents' homes in the parish environment.

Father Nong never stopped to praise the innovation of FABA. The bricks were sturdy and strong. The installation of FABA interlocking bricks also requires the skill of attention to detail.

In addition, Father Nong noted that the empty space on the inside of the brick stones would later be filled with mixed adhesive liquid. The mixture of liquids contained in the brick cavity replaces the "sloof". Moreover, the bricks affixed onto the wall look orderly even without plaster.

For green energy

The transition to sustainable green energy is one of the main agendas during the 2022 Indonesian G20 Presidency.

With the main theme "Recover Together, Recover Stronger," Indonesia's position and role in this year's G20 are crucial in encouraging the goals of energy transition that is affordable, easy-to-access, and real.

The use of FABA has economic value that protects the environment. PLN UPK Flores manager Siregar remarked that FABA has been excluded from the list of B3 waste as stipulated in Government Regulation No. 22 of 2021 on the implementation of environmental protection and management.

Hence, PLN has formulated a program in utilizing FABA through the innovation of interlocking bricks.

Chairman of the Indonesian Renewable Energy Society Surya Darma once remarked that FABA can bolster the development of the new renewable energy sector. Indonesia has also targeted to achieve a 23-percent share of new renewable energy in the national energy mix by 2025.

Before widening the use of FABA, PLN UPK Flores had conducted a trial to create interlocking bricks and paving blocks in the laboratory of the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology. The results of the trial stated that the interlocking bricks have met the Indonesian National Standard (SNI).

The use of interlocking bricks in the construction process can save 40 percent of the cost of building a house as compared to using ordinary materials, as they do not require plastering. In addition, interlocking bricks eliminate the use of other materials, such as cement and sand.

For using FABA interlocking bricks, the cost for a simple house or type 36 comprising two rooms as well as toilet and washing facilities amounts to Rp25 million. FABA allows people to build small homes at an affordable cost.

FABA has several other benefits, such as being used as a mixture of materials for highways, breakwaters, cement mixtures for building plastering, land stabilization, corrugated soil, and dredging swamps to mitigate the risk of landslides. 

Meanwhile, PLN utilizes FABA for two constructions in the East Nusa Tenggara region, which are for building or renovating houses, churches, and environmentally lean concrete parts of roads.

Ropa Coal-Fired Power Plant can produce 1,700 pieces of interlocking bricks daily. Currently, interlocking bricks from FABA have been successfully used to build churches, repair houses, and construct Indonesian Military service houses.

For the Ende region, FABA was used in building the Santo Donatus Bhoanawa Church, five units of residential homes, two units of Indonesian Military (TNI) housing facilities, and several lean concrete parts of roads.

Furthermore, some 340 tons of FABA was utilized in Maumere for revamping a naval base in Sikka in collaboration with the Maumere Naval. In addition, Sikka Military District Command conducted a renovation on six housing facilities of the TNI.

Moreover, PLN has signed a cooperation agreement with the Ende district government and the Archdiocese of Ende as a form to support the utilization of FABA.

People keen to use FABA can file a request through the related institutions, and their applications will be forwarded to PLN. Siregar asserted that PLN will provide FABA for the community at no charge, as PLN does not trade it.

Father Nong, as one of the recipients of FABA assistance, viewed that PLN did not only put forward infrastructure development but also saw the social value contained in PLN's efforts to help the community through the use of FABA products.

According to Nong, PLN prioritizes human and social values, such as gotong royong or working together. The work of renovating homes for poor people was a proof of solidarity, he affirmed.

"People's awareness was also awakened to give to each other," he stated.

PLN, as a FABA provider, seriously aims for sustainability. Hence, since 2021, the utilization of FABA did not begin in the use of materials, as PLN firstly improved the capacity of human resources.

It trained the community to master the technique of using interlocking bricks and how to produce bricks as well as build houses from FABA.

PLN also supports the formation of FABA-based micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). On February 5, 2022, PLN and the Archdiocese of Ende inaugurated the FABA-Based Brick Industry MSME in Ende//ANT

Indonesian Ambassador to Kenya Mohamad Hery Saripudin during a special interview with ANTARA in Jakarta on Saturday (March 19, 2022) (ANTARA/Kenzu Tandiah) - 

Indonesian Ambassador to Kenya Mohamad Hery Saripudin affirmed that Indonesia has myriad potentials to invest in the massive development of Kenyan infrastructures, such as the LAPSSET corridor program.

"Kenya is building a megaproject, which is a mega corridor that goes through three countries (Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan)," he told ANTARA here on Saturday.

The ambassador explained that diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Kenya had been established since 1979, and now, the economic diplomacy must be enhanced again, as Indonesia views African countries as attractive investment destinations.

Saripudin noted that both countries have been supportive of one another, especially at the United Nations. At the bilateral level, trade transactions of Indonesia and Kenya had reached more than US$500 million in 2021, which increased about more than 30 percent as compared to US$414 million in 2020.

He deemed this growth as extraordinary, as in 2019, the total trade transactions of both countries only hit US$234 million, increasing by more than 40 percent.

To improve economic bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Kenya, Saripudin and his team had striven for inviting stakeholders on ways to improve the relationship, such as by believing in one principle of economic and educational diplomacy through a paradigm shift.

"(Our efforts) are how to make Indonesia and Kenya, as two countries that barely know each other, to be closer," he stated.

Saripudin pointed out that most of the African countries' sectors are still untapped, so they become the main stage for investors. Hence, Indonesia must partake in the investment opportunities, especially in Kenya, he remarked.

For instance, in supporting Kenyan infrastructure, Indonesia can invite its expansive state-owned enterprises (BUMN) in the construction field. Saripudin said this is a huge opportunity as Kenya currently targets expanding the number of affordable houses and offering several land concessions.

Moreover, he stated that in boosting the economic potentials between the two countries, Indonesia had created the International Developing Countries Partnership Scholarship (DCPS). For Kenya, Indonesia offers 18 scholarships for 15 master's degree students and three doctorate students.

Through the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology's program Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (Freedom in Learning and Campus), he ascertained that the quality of education in both countries can improve, thereby yielding the best human resources.

"In 20-25 years from now, the students will be the decision makers whose reference for making policies are from Indonesia," he remarked//ANT

A screenshot of Function Analysis Coordinator on Economy and Industry at the State-Owned Enterprises Ministry Sitta Rosdaniah during a webinar on topic “The 2022 G20 National Seminar” here on Saturday (March 19, 2022). (ANTARA/ Juwita Trisna Rahayu) - 

It is time to make Indonesia’s G20 Presidency more accessible to the grassroots level, Function Analysis Coordinator on Economy and Industry at the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Ministry Sitta Rosdaniah stated.

“Let us ground the G20 narration that it is not only for the group of SOEs, group of private sector, group of finance, group of energy, but also for society,” Rosdaniah remarked while speaking at a webinar on topic “The 2022 G20 National Seminar” here on Saturday.

Members of society, especially those from the grassroots level, should be engaged in the activities of G20 since they are the driving forces that will also contribute to the success of the forum, she stressed.

Rosdaniah expressed amazement at one of the G20 activities that involved around 200 participants from various backgrounds -- ranging from ambassadors, professors, and academicians, to elementary teachers -- to write about their contributions that are expected to be transformed into a book.

“I am very proud of all of you that have expressed your contribution through words which I hopefully believe can be included in a book,” she affirmed.

Indonesia is taking up three key agendas in its G20 Presidency: global health architecture, digital transformation, and energy transition.

Rosdaniah underlined the importance of technology during the pandemic and how it has played a critical role in recovery.

With the help of technology, the government can ensure that every sector keeps on their tracks, such as by allowing workers to work remotely, conducting online learning for students and teachers, and providing health services for self-isolation, she explained.

“We strive to utilize the available, existing resources to ensure that all activities continue,” she stated.

Technology should be optimized to make humans more wealthy, she stressed while adding that it should also be reliable and affordable to ensure inclusiveness for all people.

To this end, it is time to again articulate what Japan had earlier come up with its ideas pertaining to Society 5.0 during the previous G20, she noted.

“In the near future, Indonesia will have Society 5.0 Plus. I am very optimistic that through it, we can boost the ‘plus’ by working in synergy with all stakeholders,” she emphasized.

Rosdaniah believed that Indonesia has potentials to realize such a society since its citizens not only possess intelligence but also high spirituality.

“Spirituality can benefit us to be lucky apart from being only smart,” she remarked.

Hence, Rosdaniah urged all parties to tap the opportunity of the G20 Presidency since it is a golden gateway to building a global network.

“We need to ensure that no one left behind. Although there is technology, we have to still foreground humanity,” she stressed//ANT

Lombok International Airport . (ANTARA/Akhyar/uyu) - 

State-run airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I recorded a surge in the number of passengers at Lombok International Airport, reaching 11,400 people per day, due to the implementation of the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia.

"Currently, (the number of) passengers at Lombok Airport is starting to increase," Public Relations Officer of PT Angkasa Pura I for Lombok International Airport Arif Haryanto stated in Praya Sub-district, Central Lombok District, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province, on Saturday.

Spectators of the international motorcycle racing event, held at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit on March 18-20, 2022, had started to arrive two days ago.

On March 17, 2022, the official stated that the number of passengers at the airport had reached 8,200 people, comprising six thousand arriving passengers and 2,200 departing passengers.

"Meanwhile, 11,400 passengers were recorded on March 18, 2022, comprising 8,900 arriving passengers and 2,500 departing passengers," he remarked.

Earlier, General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I for Lombok International Airport Nugroho Jati noted that the airport will operate round the clock in order to support the international racing event.

Hence, his side had readied the complete infrastructure, such as the airport apron, visitors’ entry and exit areas, as well as parking management.

"There is an average increase of 100 flights per day, which means the number of flights surges by 120 percent during the implementation of the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia," he remarked.

He stated that the number of passengers at the airport before the pandemic had averaged eight thousand per day. Meanwhile, amid the pandemic, the figure had declined to 3,500 people per day.

"Most of the flights come from Jakarta, Denpasar City (Bali Province), and Surabaya City (East Java Province)," he added.

Earlier, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that some 60 thousand tickets of the racing event had been sold out. Jokowi expects that the event would be an opportunity for Indonesia to promote its tourism potentials//ANT