Solar energy for villages

BENGKULU, Bengkulu: Some underdeveloped villages in Rejeng Lebong regency plan to use a Solar Home System (SHS) to produce electricity for the 1997/1998 fiscal year, a local Ministry of Energy and Mines official said yesterday.

Zuher Effendi said the new equipment, consisting of 120 units, can produce 34 watts of electricity to activate a television set and three neon light bulbs of eight watts each.

Antara said Zuher's team is currently considering which villages will have the new equipment.

"The main criteria for this project include a hillside location, the absence of electricity from the state-owned electricity company PLN, and the lack of adequate road infrastructure," he said.

The solar energy equipment, valued at Rp 240 million (US$98,928) is cost-effective in the long term as each home in Rejang Lebong regency needs to spend Rp 15,000 ($6.18) monthly for light. The equipment requires minimum maintenance with usage spanning 30 years, he said.

Assistance was made possible from a government grant in which an initial fee of Rp 20,000 and a monthly fee of Rp 5,000 would apply to each home using the energy, Zuher said.

"The fees will go to other residents to purchase the same equipment or other productive economic activities," he said.

Twelve homes in the Air Keruh and Napal Malintang villages, South Bengkulu have already used the Solar Home System since the 1995/1996 fiscal year. The following year it was increased to 40 homes in Tapak Baru village of Ketahun district in North Bengkulu regency. (01)