Illustrative image (Photo: http://www.gbgindonesia.com/
Jakarta (VNA) - The Asian Development Bbank (ADB) hasapproved a 600-million-USD loan to help PLN, Indonesia’s state-owned powercompany, expand electricity access and promote the use of renewable energy in theeastern region of the country.
The loan was granted to the second phase of theSustainable Energy Access in Eastern Indonesia–Electricity Grid DevelopmentProgramme to support efforts by PLN to expand electricity access and improveservice quality in nine provinces, including Kalimantan, Maluku, and Papua.
The first phase of the programme began in 2017 and covered eight provinces inSulawesi and Nusa Tenggara.
ADB Southeast Asia Energy Director Toru Kubo said on November25 that the programme will boost sustainable, equitable, and reliable access toelectricity among the communities in remote eastern Indonesia, includingthrough the use of solar and other renewable sources.
It will also support eastern Indonesia’s economicrecovery from the pandemic and contribute to equitable and resilient growth, headded.
At present, expanded electrification in easternIndonesia is a key part of the government’s infrastructure investment plan,with the goal of electricity for all by 2024. The Indonesian government plansto increase the share of renewable energy in the total energy mix to 23 percent by 2025, up from13 percent in 2016. It also hopes to eliminate diesel use from electricity generation.
The loan is expected to support PLN's efforts toinstall medium and low voltage distribution infrastructure to provideelectricity to 1.55 million new customers in nine provinces by 2024./.
