
Children in North Kocuas, district of West Aifat, Maybrat Regency are practicing the Ayase dance at night utilizing local solar electricity – IST
Ransiki, Jubi – PT PLN (Persero) launched the operation of electricity in 101 villages in Papua and West Papua Provinces.
Director of Maluku-Papua Regional Business of PT PLN (Persero), Ahmad Rofik, at the launch in Neney district, South Manokwari Regency, Thursday (October 26), said the launch was also to commemorate the National Day of Electricity.
“This is as a gift PT PLN for the people of Papua and West Papua,” said Ahmad.
He explained that President Joko Widodo has launched a program called ‘Indonesia Terang’ (Light up Indonesia). Then PT PLN also launched the program of ‘Light up Papua’. The program targets up to 2020 villages in these two provinces to be electrified.
Ahmad said that the total 101 new villages with electricity this year are spread in the working areas of PLN Sorong, Merauke, Timika, Manokwari, Jayapura, and Biak.
General Manager of PT PLN Papua and West Papua Region, Yohanes Sukrislismono, said through the program ‘Papua Terang’, up until 2017 PLN would be lighten up 117 villages in Papua and West Papua.
“Our target is 379 villages, with 117 villages receiving this program, 268 more villages are left for us to finish in December 2017 so they can be Christmas presents,” he said.
In the district of Neney there are 7 villages that have electricity in this program. The presence of PLN in the district was welcomed by the local community.
South Manokwari Regent, Markus Waran, said Neney is one of the inland areas of the district, before the road was built this area can only be penetrated through small planes.
“Roads had been built and now electricity has come in. It’s been long awaited by the community of Neney who used to be living in the dark,” he said. (Antara/Zely)