Minister of Cooperatives States 6,300 Renewable Energy Village Cooperatives Ready for Operation

As many as 6,300 Merah Putih Cooperatives based on renewable energy in villages and urban neighbourhoods are confirmed to have entered the operational phase. Minister of Cooperatives Ferry Juliantono stated that all supporting infrastructure has been completed. “Then there are 25,000 cooperatives that are now being built. In this operationalisation phase, we are certainly concentrating on every village and urban neighbourhood that still needs support from the availability of renewable energy,” Ferry said after inspecting the Merah Putih Urban Neighbourhood Cooperative (KKMP) in Manulai 2 Urban Neighbourhood, Alak Subdistrict, Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Saturday (25/4/2026). He emphasised that the physical buildings, outlets, and cooperative equipment have been completed 100 percent. The government is now focusing on ensuring that the utilisation of renewable energy can reach villages and urban neighbourhoods. Ferry explained that one of the efforts being prepared is the construction of mini-scale solar power plants (PLTS) with a capacity of around half a megawatt. “These can be established in villages or urban neighbourhoods and then managed for business activities and household needs by the Merah Putih village/urban neighbourhood cooperatives,” he clarified. In addition, the Gerindra Party politician encouraged Merah Putih village/urban neighbourhood cooperatives in NTT not only to adopt new renewable energy but also to get involved in providing solar fuel stations for fishermen, ice factories, and tourism posts. “This place is already good; the KKMP Manulai 2 buys paddy rice and sells it themselves. We will help so that village/urban neighbourhood cooperatives can operate everywhere,” Ferry explained. He also stressed the importance of cooperatives building a self-reliant business ecosystem. For cooperatives that do not yet have electricity access, the government will encourage the construction of mini-scale PLTS. “NTT is a good example here. The Governor and Deputy Governor are always enthusiastic about building Merah Putih village/urban neighbourhood cooperatives,” Ferry concluded. National Cooperative Energy Programme According to detikfinance, the Ministry of Cooperatives of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemenkop RI) in collaboration with PT Energy Absolute GreenX Indonesia has launched the Indonesian Cooperative Energy Independence Programme (PKEKI). This programme is one of the largest cooperative-based renewable energy initiatives in Asia. The programme targets implementation in more than 80,000 village cooperatives across Indonesia. This initiative is also part of the strategic directives of the President of the Republic of Indonesia to accelerate national energy independence, people’s economic empowerment, and the transition towards sustainable and low-carbon development. Minister of Cooperatives Ferry Juliantono emphasised that this programme is a major step for the nation. “By mobilising more than 80,000 cooperatives, we are making cooperatives the main driver of energy independence, economic resilience, and sustainable growth. This is not just a programme; it is a national movement,” he said in a press release on Wednesday (22/6/2026).