LPDB allocates Rp2.1 trillion to boost cooperative-based solar power development

The real sector is a priority, including renewable energy such as solar power plants (PLTS), which are relevant to village needs. Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Lembaga Pengelola Dana Bergulir (LPDB) Koperasi has prepared a fund disbursement of Rp2.1 trillion in 2026 for financing real sector cooperatives, including the development of cooperative-based solar power plants (PLTS) to accelerate village electrification. LPDB Koperasi’s Director General and Legal Affairs, Deva Rachman, explained that the fund allocation consists of 85% for the real sector and 15% for the savings and loan sector. “We want to expand the direct economic impact on society. Therefore, the real sector is a priority, including renewable energy like PLTS, which is relevant to village needs,” Deva said in a press statement in Jakarta on Friday. He explained that in terms of financing, LPDB offers a competitive scheme with a service rate of 6.5% for conventional and equivalent to 3% flat for the sharia scheme. The application process is also claimed to be faster through a digital system, with an approval time of around 21 working days if requirements are met. LPDB provides financing ceilings starting from Rp500 million to Rp250 billion per cooperative, with an investment tenor of up to 10 years. Furthermore, Deva highlighted the role of cooperatives in supporting village electrification, especially in underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) areas that still face limited electricity access. “There are still areas where electricity is only on for a few hours a day. Even fishery products are not optimal due to limited facilities like cold storage. Cooperative-based PLTS can be a concrete solution,” he stated. According to him, with the target of forming 83,000 Red and White Village Cooperatives across Indonesia, there is great potential to develop community-based renewable energy. “We encourage the formation of cooperatives in the energy sector, including PLTS. This is not just about electricity, but also increasing village economic productivity,” Deva said. He mentioned that besides financing, LPDB also runs a six-month incubation programme involving universities and professional institutions to enhance the managerial and business capacities of cooperatives. Deva invited industry players, associations, and communities to utilise cooperatives as a collective vehicle to access financing and develop businesses, including in the renewable energy sector.