Underwater Electricity for a Thousand Islands Begins
Friday, 14 March, 2008 | 23:11 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: After being delayed several times, the government of Jakarta Special Province (DKI Jakarta) yesterday launched an underwater electricity network with a prepaid-based system. The delay was due to damage of the cable in the sea last January.

“This electricity will be a main energy source for the Thousand Islands,” said vice governor of DKI Jakarta, Prijanto, at city hall, after the launching in Untung Jawa island. The Jakarta government invested Rp 240 billion for the 30-year period.

In the past, this area was supported by 43 electric generators, managed by the DKI government, that cost Rp 45 billion a year. The electricity system is by the cooperation of the Jakarta government with the state-owned electricity company (PLN), distribution division for Jakarta and Tangerang. “In the next 30 years, DKI can save approximately Rp 1 trillion,” Prijanto said.

For the first step, the electricity network will serve 2,500 customers with a target of 9,000 customers. Starting from main gateway in Naga Bay, Tangerang, the network is underwater for 8.9 kilometers from Tanjung Pasir to Untung Jawa and surrounding islands in three villages of Untung Jawa, Pari, and Tidung. Total length of this network is 40.6 kilometers.

In 2009, DKI plans to develop the network to the northern part of the archipelago by providing a budget of Rp 10 billion from the regional budget. Villagers can purchase a voucher for this service with a value range of Rp 20,000 for 40 kWh to Rp 1.4 million for 1193 kWh.

The DKI government and PLN will help with the installation. There are categories for home, business/billboard, industry, and office. The installation price is between Rp 135 thousand to 14 million, depending on which category is chosen and the need for electricity adjusted to the electricity supply in 24 hours. “If we use a generator, the electricity power is only for 10-18 hours,” said Prijanto.

Bupati Kepulauan Seribu Djoko Ramadhan mengatakan, untuk mencegah kabel itu rusak lagi, pihaknya akan melakukan pengawasan. Ada tim khusus yang melibatkan PLN dan aparatnya untuk mengawasi kabel itu.

The regent of a Thousand islands, Djoko Ramadhan, said that to prevent damage, there is special team involving PLN to observe the electricity network.

Mustafa Silalahi