Universitas Gadjah Mada’s Centre for Energy Studies has supported the government programme to address the issue of underdeveloped infrastructures for national electricity The national capacity of 53 GW in year 2015 or 210 Watts per capita is still under Singapore which is 2500 Watts per capita and Malaysia 950 Watts per capita. ''The 35 GW programme launched by the president needs to be promoted in order that this underdevelopment issue is not aggravated,” said electricity expert of UGM, Dr. Tumiran, to journalists on Monday (27/6).
According to Tumiran, the acceleration of 35 GW development has not reached the target due to lack of synergy and coordination between related institutions that is very much required in meeting the target.”Electricity sector has to develop and accelerated further as without them, factory and industry won’t grow well,” he said.
Tumiran said areas outside Java were still experiencing power shortage, which makes investment and industry undeveloped.
Tumiran has the opinion that the PLN state electricty company should boost the technology transformation in power plants. “The PLN has to be a leader in accelerating the 35 GWs development,” he said.
On problems related to the halt of construction of 34 power plants, Tumiran sees the importance of an overall evalution, because not all has to be accelerated. ''Not all can be accelerated, don’t make the costs expensive. There has to be an evaluation if the delayed project has been designed according to engineering standards, also who will be responsible for the upstream investment,” he said.
Head of the Centre, Dr. Deendarlianto, said apart from the power shortage issue, the government also has to encourage increased renewable energy use, moreover the target of Bauran new and renewable energy is to reach 23 percent by 2025. ''New energy has to be optimised but the economy needs to be given attention, too,” said Deendarlianto.
He added the UGM’s Centre is committed to developing renewable energy, one of these is the solar energy use for underpriviledged families in Tanjung Jabung regency in Jambi province and Solok Selatan in West Sumatera in a grant worth 16.7 billion. “The project will start in July,” he said. The renewable energy will be used for lighting, agricultural waste management, farming, and clean water supply.
Another researcher from the Centre, Dr. Rachmawan Budiarto, added that they had teamed up with local community to operate and maintain the technology that are already installed. “Our experience showed that it would be easier to maintain the technology if it makes impact and added value to their lives,” said he.