Banten accelerates solar power plant construction for 24-hour electricity on Tunda Island

The Banten Provincial Government is accelerating the completion of administrative requirements for the construction of a Communal Solar Power Plant (PLTS) on Tunda Island, Serang Regency, to ensure residents can soon enjoy 24-hour electricity services.

Head of the Banten Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Office, Ari James Faraddy, stated on Friday that residents of Tunda Island have been heavily dependent on Diesel Power Plants (PLTD). “Residents can only enjoy electricity for 6 to 8 hours a day because they rely on PLTD, whose fuel is difficult to obtain and expensive. Therefore, we continue to strive to bring PT PLN electricity to Tunda Island,” Ari said.

Efforts to provide adequate electricity services have actually been pursued since 2024 through coordination with the Ministry of ESDM and PT PLN (Persero). The proposal was successfully included in PLN’s General Plan for Electricity Supply (RUPTL) with a target execution in 2026. However, a fresh opportunity has arisen as the 150 kilowatt peak (kWp) capacity project has the chance to be realised earlier through funding support from the Revised State Budget (APBN Perubahan) via the Directorate General of Electricity at the Ministry of ESDM.

“Alhamdulillah, our efforts have been included in the Revised APBN. Later, there will be construction for village electricity (lisdes) and also the PLTS,” Ari explained. As a condition for budget disbursement, the central government has given the regional government a four-month deadline to complete land legality so that its status is truly clean and clear, preventing the budget from being diverted to other regions.

Responding to this deadline, the Banten Provincial Government immediately moved quickly by holding a coordination meeting with village officials and local community leaders. As a result, residents gave full support to the infrastructure project. “Alhamdulillah, it was well received by the residents. In fact, one resident of Tunda Island is willing to donate their land for the PLTS to be built there,” he revealed.

Currently, the regional government is processing the issuance of the Regional Grant Agreement Deed (NPHD) as the main administrative requirement. The Banten Provincial Government is targeting the completion of all land legality documents by early August. If this administration is completed, physical construction, for which the Detailed Engineering Design (DED) has been thoroughly prepared by PLN, is targeted to begin directly in October this year.