Clean Energy Brings Independence Day Celebration to Sembur Island Residents
On that day, the Red and White flag flew accompanied by the national anthem Indonesia Raya played through a solar-powered sound system, with a tree trunk converted into a flagpole. That morning (17/8) was a different moment for the people of Sembur Island, Batam. For the first time since Indonesia’s independence, residents held a ceremony to commemorate the Republic of Indonesia’s Independence Day on their island. A simple ceremony.
A tree trunk growing on the island was used as a flagpole. Residents gathered and followed the ceremony together. Indonesia Raya was heard through loudspeakers powered by solar energy.
What made the ceremony even more special was that all ceremony officials were students of SMP Negeri 49 Batam. They served as flag raisers, readers of the Pancasila text, readers of the 1945 Constitution, and other officials in the ceremony.
For the students, serving as ceremony officials on Sembur Island was not merely a school assignment. They had the opportunity to be part of an independence commemoration held for the first time for the community on the island.
“I feel proud to be a ceremony official on Sembur Island. Usually we attend ceremonies at school, but this time we could serve here and celebrate 17 August together with the community. Moreover, we could serve in front of the residents,” said Tika, one of the students of SMP Negeri 49 Batam.
For the people of Sembur Island, electricity is not just a necessity for powering daily equipment. The presence of electricity also opens space for more community activities.
“We have never held a ceremony like this on the island. This year we could gather together and celebrate 17 August here. There were also competitions that were very enjoyable for the community, especially since the electricity for the sound system could also use solar power,” said Rustam, a Sembur Island resident.
The solar power plant on Sembur Island was built by Pertamina New & Renewable Energy (Pertamina NRE) together with the Ministry of Cooperatives as part of the development of the Merah Putih Village/Sub-district Cooperative solar power plant.
This solar power plant has a capacity of 1 MWp with 1 MWh battery support. The Sembur Island solar power plant was developed because the area previously still relied on diesel generators that placed a significant burden on the community’s economy. The project is directed at supporting the needs of around 200 households as well as community economic activities through cooperatives, including through the construction of an ice factory with a capacity of 4 tonnes per day and a cold storage warehouse.
For Pertamina NRE, the benefits of clean energy do not stop at the availability of electricity. Energy is expected to become part of community activities and economic development.
“For us, energy is not only about generating electricity. What is more important is how that electricity can provide real benefits for the community and support their activities. It is hoped that the continuous presence of electricity can help improve the standard of living of the people of Sembur Island. With the availability of facilities such as cold storage and ice makers, fishing communities can better maintain the quality of their catch and develop their fish businesses. What happened on Sembur Island today is a simple example that clean energy can be present and used in the daily lives of the community,” said Pertamina NRE President Director John Anis.
The use of solar power plant electricity to “accompany” the 17 August ceremony is one small illustration of the utilisation of energy now available on the island. From the sound system that played Indonesia Raya to the ceremony conducted by the students, solar energy became part of the independence celebration of the people of Sembur Island.
“What we hope is not just that the electricity is on, but that the community can carry out more activities and develop their businesses. If the electricity can also be used for activities like today’s ceremony, that is certainly something we are proud of,” John Anis continued.
The ceremony that day ended. The students returned, and residents continued their activities. But the Red and White flag still flew atop the simply made wooden pole, becoming part of the story of an island slowly enjoying the benefits of electricity from the sun, while welcoming independence in its own way.