Government Prepares Three Strategies to Expand Electricity Access to Remote Areas

The government is preparing three main strategies to expand electricity access to remote villages. The roadmap is directed at electrifying all locations that have not yet received access to electricity from PLN. In addition, the government will provide New Electricity Installation Assistance (BPBL) to underprivileged households after the electricity network is available. Head of the Government Communication Agency (Bakom) Muhammad Qodari said the first strategy involves extending the PLN grid to areas that are still not electrified. The second strategy is the construction of mini grids based on local energy potential, including new renewable energy, to serve communal settlements in remote areas and islands. The third strategy is the provision of individual Solar Power Plants equipped with batteries for scattered settlements that are considered uneconomical to reach with the electricity grid. According to official PLN data, the national electrification ratio has reached 99.83 percent of the total number of households across Indonesia, while the electrified village ratio has reached 99.97 percent and the electrification ratio directly served by PLN has reached 98.56 percent.