Indonesia: Village Electricity Becomes a Symbol of the State’s Presence to Remote Areas
JAKARTA – The government has emphasized its commitment to making equal access to electricity a top priority for national development in the coming decade.
Through the launch of the Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL) of PT PLN (Persero) 2025–2034, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia stated that energy provision is not just a matter of need, but also a form of social justice for all people.
“For me, energy is not just a matter of need, but also a form of equality and justice from Aceh to Papua,” said Bahlil in Jakarta.
He also added that President Prabowo Subianto’s direction is to ensure that all villages that do not yet have electricity are immediately connected, starting in stages this year and completed in 2029.
This latest RUPTL is prepared in line with the National Energy Policy (KEN) and the National Electricity General Plan (RUKN), and supports the Net Zero Emission (NZE) target in 2060.
The government is targeting an increase in generating capacity of up to 69.5 GW by 2034, with 76 percent coming from new renewable energy (EBT) and energy storage systems.
“If we have built the network, EBT generators can be used directly. Now PLN is building the network first so that EBT generators can be used optimally without burdening the budget. So we install the network first,” explained Bahlil.
The Village Electricity Program (Lisdes) is the backbone of energy equality. The government is targeting 5,758 villages to be electrified with a generating capacity of 394 MW and connections to 780 thousand households.
Director General of Electricity, Jisman P. Hutajulu, emphasized that the government has prepared a roadmap worth IDR 50 trillion.
“After successfully electrifying millions of homes, the government is now focusing on the remaining 780 thousand homes that will soon be electrified. This cannot be allowed. We ensure that these villages are served by PLN so that they are more sustainable,” said Jisman.
Jisman also emphasized the importance of subsidies for people in disadvantaged, outermost, and remote areas (3T).
“Electricity access is the gateway for state subsidies to be more targeted in 3T areas,” he said.
Meanwhile, PLN President Director, Darmawan Prasodjo, stated that PLN is fully prepared to realize energy equality.
“We are an extension of the state. This Lisdes program is a real manifestation of the fifth principle of Pancasila,” said Darmawan.
Through this strategic step, the government hopes that there will be no more areas in Indonesia that are pitch black. Equal distribution of electricity is a symbol of the presence of the state that reaches all corners of the country. (^)
