Indonesia targets electrification of 10,000 remote areas in five years

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia aims to accelerate electrification across more than 10,000 underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) areas within five years to ensure equal access to energy and narrow gaps in public services.Jisman Hutajulu, expert staff for strategic planning at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, said thousands of communities still lack full electricity access despite nationwide progress.Speaking at the Electricity Connect 2025 forum in Jakarta on Wednesday, he noted that the electrification ratio served by state utility PLN has reached 98.54 percent.He said the remaining challenge covers over 10,000 priority points, consisting of about 5,700 villages and 4,400 hamlets, mainly located in Papua, Maluku, and Nusa Tenggara.Hutajulu said the ministry estimates that accelerating electrification in 3T areas will require around Rp61 trillion (US$3.6 billion) in investment over several years.This includes Rp2.5 trillion allocated to a free electricity connection program for low-income households, a core component of the government’s social energy support.The program, he added, has reached 155,000 households in the past three years.In 2025, the government targets assistance for 255,000 households, with technical work carried out by PLN.He also highlighted ongoing efforts to build communal solar power plants in 80,000 villages to strengthen renewable energy services, particularly in areas not connected to the national grid.These facilities are designed not only for lighting but also to boost village economies through support for irrigation, food processing, and small-scale industry in remote regions.“We want electricity to be available, affordable, sustainable, and equitable for everyone,” Hutajulu said, stressing that energy access must align with long-term national development plans.Chief of Staff to the President Muhammad Qodari said equal access to electricity is crucial because it directly influences education, healthcare, and economic mobility in isolated communities.He emphasized that the government is committed to expanding reliable and clean electricity services as part of broader efforts to advance social justice and improve Indonesians’ quality of life.