Tens of UGM students joining nature enthusiast group will be sent to Papua for 1 - 2 month stay in the isolated parts of the island.
The students will do surveys and mapping of new and renewable energy as well as local potential generated by power existence. The students will be assisted by joint forces of military, Lapan and PLN.
“There are 30 students being sent to Papua,” said UGM Student Affairs Director, Dr. Suharyadi, after briefing the students on Wednesday (25/7) in the Multimedia room at UGM.
They will join the Papua Terang expedition team that will also involve hundreds of students from ITB, UI, ITS, and Universitas Cenderawasih.
According to Suharyadi, the selection of students was based on their experience in wild nature. Yoga Sukma Nugraha (21), Philosophy student, said he joined the expedition to gain experience and follow his hobby. To be assigned to Merauke, Yoga said, he was asked to do surveys related to natural condition, new and renewable energy resource potential, and establish interaction with the local people. “We are also tasked with report writing and documentation works,” he said.
He explained they had trained hard for the expedition and they also received pocket money during the expedition. The PLN and the military will help with logistics and health services.
Bimo Adityo, Public Relations Officer of PLN Central Java and Yogyakarta, said the Papua Terang expedition aimed at supporting electrification of Papua which is still very low.
“The reports from the students will be made a reference for the PLN to construct power grid in the isolated region,” he said.