100% electricity in Sumba to be generated with renewable source of energy

State owned utility company PT PLN plans to generate electricity in Sumba island, East Nusa Tenggara, entirely from renewable sources of energy, with other small islands to follow as part of its efforts to diversify its energy mix.

Nationally, PLN wants renewable energy to contribute some 20 percent of its energy mix by 2020 from around 11 percent at present.

?Currently in Sumba there is mini hydro power plant PLTM Lokomboro (2x800 kilowatt) in operation. PLN is carrying out an extention project with the capacity by 2x500 kW there, as well as a cascading project with 2x200 kW capacity,? President Director Nur Pamudji said during a visit in the facility last week.

Another two mini hydro projects will also soon be developed namely Umbu Wangu (2x500 kW) and Kambaniru (2x500 kW).

In addition to the mini hydro plants, PLN is also developing solar-based power generation projects in the area, in particular in the remote areas there. Under this program, an interested customer will receive a solar panel to be installed at their home complete with connecting cable and three lamps, equipped with storage capacity, and a remote control.

?So far in Sumba, those equipments have been installed in 100,000 houses. We target new customers to increase by 37,000 by the end of the year, ? said Richard Safkaur, General Manager for East Nusa Tenggara region.

Currently, electricity demand in the island peaks at around 7.1 MW.

Editing by Dadan Wijaksana