antaranews.com – TERANG project or investing new renewable energy in communities is able to bring electricity to 26 districts of Eastern Indonesia.

Based on data from the international development organization Hivos that compiled by Antara in Jakarta, on Wednesday, that the 26 districts are spread in the regions of West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi.

The project initiated the synergy of the government, private sector and NGOs in improving renewable energy access. The total energy produced is 60.68 KW of solar energy that distributed to 5,079 households and 25 schools.

Partial funding was also obtained from the community as much as 4.8 billion rupiahs to build 1,010 biogas installations.

East Nusa Tenggara Province (NTT) itself has engaged with various communities and private investors to develop the potential of new renewable energy in order to meet the electrification target.

“In our province, there are many potentials of renewable energies, but inadequate infrastructure makes the realization of electricity requires a lot of costs,” said the Head of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division of the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Government, Boni, on the same occasion.

Therefore, the synergy between communities is needed in order to realize electrification in the entire East Nusa Tenggara region.

Meanwhile, from the international non-governmental organization, Director of Hivos Southeast Asia, Biranchi Upadhayana highlighted the importance of new renewable energy in development.

“Collaborative projects such as the ‘TERANG” project play an important role in expanding the coverage of the off-grid renewable energy, reaching out remote rural communities, and improving the economy,” Biranchi said.

In September 2017, Indonesia has reached 93.08 percent of the electrification ratio, where almost all regions from Aceh to Sulawesi had an average of over 70 percent.

Meanwhile, in East Nusa Tenggara, the electrification ratio only reached 58.99 percent. This fact shows that access to energy is still not yet inclusive.

One of the lessons learned from Sumba is the importance of cooperation and partnership among various stakeholders to establish the inclusive energy.

“To meet the needs of the community, it is not enough if only with home solar panels and electricity network connections. Solar power pumps require a right funding strategy, as well as biogas installations,” he said.

Hivos itself is an international development organization focuses in the humanitarian field. This organization is looking for solutions through collaboration with innovative business communities and other parties.

(Source: https://www.antaranews.com/berita/680130/proyek-terang-alirkan-listrik-di-26-kabupaten)