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Ambassador Jermey during the launch of a bamboo internet tower in Sumba (British Embassy doc) -

Voinews, Jakarta - British Ambassador to Indonesia Dominic Jermey visited Sumba Island, East Nusa Tenggara on 30 January – 1 February 2024. During his visit, the Ambassador launched the first Bamboo Internet Tower in Sumba Barat Daya, serving approximately 400 people from surrounding villages, addressing digital connectivity challenges as well as supporting economic empowerment in rural and remote areas.

This community-owned internet tower was built through a partnership between the UK’s Digital Access Programme (DAP), local NGO Common Room, and Don Bosco Training Centre. The Digital Access Programme catalyses inclusive, affordable, safe, and secure digital access for excluded or underserved populations in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Brazil and Indonesia.

The DAP uses increased digital inclusion as a basis for more thriving digital ecosystems that stimulate innovations for local development challenges and the creation of local skilled jobs. In Indonesia, the Digital Access Programme has directly benefitted 68,000 people with improved digital connectivity, skills, literacy, and services.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Thursday (01/02/24), since 2020, the UK has spent £2m through local implementing partners across 18 provinces in Indonesia. Ambassador Jermey also had the opportunity to visit the solar power plant in Mata Redi and MataWoga villages, which is part of the UK-Indonesia just energy transition partnership MENTARI programme (Towards Indonesia’s Low Carbon Energy Transition). 

The 95 kWp solar power plant which was completed in 2022, supplies electricity to 243 houses, 14 public facilities such as schools, health centers, offices and for street lighting twenty-four hours a day.

“I am very pleased to visit this beautiful island of Sumba and witness how the UK-Indonesia partnership in digital access and just energy transition through the MENTARI programme, have made significant impact on the local communities. As we celebrate UK-Indonesia's 75 th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, our MENTARI programme and the building of the Bamboo Internet Tower in Sumba is another strong example of the UK’s commitment to deepen our partnership with Indonesia to support remote communities and reduce poverty. The first bamboo internet tower built through the UK’s Digital Access Programme, demonstrates our serious commitment to work with Indonesia in enhancing digital inclusion and literacy for rural development. The UK’s flagship MENTARI programme has also been successful by involving communities, especially women and the younger generation, to make a positive contribution to their villages, and to realise their economic potential, and climate resilience through renewable energy", Ambassador Jermey said. 

Meanwhile the Director of Geothermal, Directorate General of New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Harris Yahya said that the Ministr is pleased to collaborate with British Embassy Jakarta through the MENTARI programme to develop renewable energy-based electricity for people in Mata Redi and Mata Woga.

“MEMR is pleased to collaborate with British Embassy Jakarta through the MENTARI programme to develop renewable energy-based electricity for people in Mata Redi and Mata Woga. The holistic approach used in the programme allows us to have an optimum solar PV system operability and ensure its benefits for villagers. MENTARI project in Sumba have successfully empowered them to use the power efficiently and productively, which leads to an improvement in their livelihoods and creating a more inclusive community” He said. 

The warm welcome was not only come from the Ministry but also from the Acting Regent of Central Sumba Dr Lery Rupidara who stated that development in the local economy is more inclusive in the community as the result of trainings provided by MENTARI.

"I am pleased to welcome British Ambassador, Mr. Dominic Jermey on his first visit to Sumba. It has now been more than one year that the community enjoy the benefits of having electricity access in Mata Redi and Mata Woga. I am very happy to see the development in the local economy and a more inclusive community as the result of trainings provided by MENTARI. Sumba has lots of potential to be explored and we're happy that Sumba can take part in the global action to tackle climate change by maximising it's renewable energy potential", He added//VOI