On that day, the Red and White flag flew accompanied by the national\nanthem Indonesia Raya played through a solar-powered sound system, with\na tree trunk converted into a flagpole. That morning (17\/8) was a\ndifferent moment for the people of Sembur Island, Batam. For the first\ntime since Indonesia\u2019s independence, residents held a ceremony to\ncommemorate the Republic of Indonesia\u2019s Independence Day on their\nisland. A simple ceremony.<\/p>\n
A tree trunk growing on the island was used as a flagpole. Residents\ngathered and followed the ceremony together. Indonesia Raya was heard\nthrough loudspeakers powered by solar energy.<\/p>\n
What made the ceremony even more special was that all ceremony\nofficials were students of SMP Negeri 49 Batam. They served as flag\nraisers, readers of the Pancasila text, readers of the 1945\nConstitution, and other officials in the ceremony.<\/p>\n
For the students, serving as ceremony officials on Sembur Island was\nnot merely a school assignment. They had the opportunity to be part of\nan independence commemoration held for the first time for the community\non the island.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel proud to be a ceremony official on Sembur Island. Usually we\nattend ceremonies at school, but this time we could serve here and\ncelebrate 17 August together with the community. Moreover, we could\nserve in front of the residents,\u201d said Tika, one of the students of SMP\nNegeri 49 Batam.<\/p>\n
For the people of Sembur Island, electricity is not just a necessity\nfor powering daily equipment. The presence of electricity also opens\nspace for more community activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have never held a ceremony like this on the island. This year we\ncould gather together and celebrate 17 August here. There were also\ncompetitions that were very enjoyable for the community, especially\nsince the electricity for the sound system could also use solar power,\u201d\nsaid Rustam, a Sembur Island resident.<\/p>\n
The solar power plant on Sembur Island was built by Pertamina New\n& Renewable Energy (Pertamina NRE) together with the Ministry of\nCooperatives as part of the development of the Merah Putih\nVillage\/Sub-district Cooperative solar power plant.<\/p>\n
This solar power plant has a capacity of 1 MWp with 1 MWh battery\nsupport. The Sembur Island solar power plant was developed because the\narea previously still relied on diesel generators that placed a\nsignificant burden on the community\u2019s economy. The project is directed\nat supporting the needs of around 200 households as well as community\neconomic activities through cooperatives, including through the\nconstruction of an ice factory with a capacity of 4 tonnes per day and a\ncold storage warehouse.<\/p>\n
For Pertamina NRE, the benefits of clean energy do not stop at the\navailability of electricity. Energy is expected to become part of\ncommunity activities and economic development.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor us, energy is not only about generating electricity. What is\nmore important is how that electricity can provide real benefits for the\ncommunity and support their activities. It is hoped that the continuous\npresence of electricity can help improve the standard of living of the\npeople of Sembur Island. With the availability of facilities such as\ncold storage and ice makers, fishing communities can better maintain the\nquality of their catch and develop their fish businesses. What happened\non Sembur Island today is a simple example that clean energy can be\npresent and used in the daily lives of the community,\u201d said Pertamina\nNRE President Director John Anis.<\/p>\n
The use of solar power plant electricity to \u201caccompany\u201d the 17 August\nceremony is one small illustration of the utilisation of energy now\navailable on the island. From the sound system that played Indonesia\nRaya to the ceremony conducted by the students, solar energy became part\nof the independence celebration of the people of Sembur Island.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we hope is not just that the electricity is on, but that the\ncommunity can carry out more activities and develop their businesses. If\nthe electricity can also be used for activities like today\u2019s ceremony,\nthat is certainly something we are proud of,\u201d John Anis continued.<\/p>\n
The ceremony that day ended. The students returned, and residents\ncontinued their activities. But the Red and White flag still flew atop\nthe simply made wooden pole, becoming part of the story of an island\nslowly enjoying the benefits of electricity from the sun, while\nwelcoming independence in its own way.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/clean-energy-brings-independence-day-celebration-to-sembur-island-residents-1786981826", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }