Pertamina and Ministry of Cooperatives Launch Innovative Solar Energy Project

Clean Energy for Remote Community

PT Pertamina (Persero), through its renewable energy arm Pertamina New & Renewable Energy (Pertamina NRE), has partnered with the Ministry of Cooperatives (Kemenkop) to launch the first Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih (KDKMP) Solar Power Plant. Located in Galang Baru, Pulau Sembur Laut, Batam, this pioneering project marks a significant step in Indonesia's rural electrification and community empowerment through clean energy.

Project Details and Community Impact

The solar power plant is designed with a capacity of 400 kW and a substantial 1 MWh battery storage system, making it a robust solution for the remote community. This infrastructure will provide electricity to approximately 200 households that were previously dependent on expensive and polluting diesel generators. The project not only addresses the basic energy needs but also aims to foster productive economic activities such as fisheries and aquaculture by powering cold storage and ice maker facilities.

Cooperative-Based Management Model

A key feature of this initiative is its management structure. The solar power plant will be operated through a cooperative model involving the local Koperasi Merah Putih. This approach ensures that the benefits of the infrastructure are directly felt by the community members. Minister of Cooperatives, Ferry Juliantono, emphasized that this model transforms the community from mere beneficiaries to active stakeholders in the energy infrastructure.

Scalability and Future Implications

The success of this pilot project is expected to serve as a blueprint for similar initiatives in other remote areas, particularly in regions categorized as 3T (Terluar, Terdepan, Tertinggal - Outermost, Frontier, and Least Developed). The integration of renewable energy with cooperative management is seen as a potentially replicable model that could significantly contribute to Indonesia's energy access and rural development goals.