PORTALJABAR, DISTRICT. WEST BANDUNG - The West Java Provincial Government is continuing to increase the electrification ratio by bringing electricity to remote areas.

The West Java Provincial Government in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has provided hydroelectric power plants for 83 houses in Tangsi Jaya Hamlet, Gununghalu Village/District, West Bandung Regency.

Acting Governor of West Java Bey Machmudin inspected the electricity source called the Rimba Lestari Micro Hydro Power Plant (PLTMH) Powerhouse, on Thursday (22/2/2024).

Bey, accompanied by the Director of Infrastructure, Director General of EBTKE, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Hendra Iswahyudi, and the Head of the West Java Province ESDM Service, visited one of the houses of residents who were beneficiaries of the Rimba Lestari PLTMH Powerhouse. The resident's house receives 18 kWh of electricity.

Bey revealed that Tangsi Jaya Hamlet cannot receive PLN electricity due to geographical constraints. With PLTMH Rimba Lestari, residents can now watch television, listen to the radio, and use other electricity-based household appliances.

"Initially 63 houses had electricity, now there has been an increase of 83 houses," said Bey Machmudin at the Rimba Lestari PLTMH Powerhouse location.

Bey revealed that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said it would build another PLTMH Powerhouse in Gununghalu with higher power reaching 30-40 KW.

"The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will build another generator, and hopefully it will be built soon in early March with a capacity of 30-40 KW. This means that more houses will have electricity," he said.

The presence of PLTMH Rimba Lestari is an initiative of the West Java Provincial Government to bring electricity to remote areas, both through the State Electricity Company (PLN) and non-PLN. PLTMH Rimba Lestari in Gununghalu is included in the non-PLN category.

"So why is there this PLTMH because PLN hasn't been able to come in yet, and the Provincial Government has taken the initiative to build it. This has been a long time coming and this year it will also be revitalized," he concluded.

West Java's electrification ratio in 2023 will reach 99.98 percent. Of the 27 districts and cities, the average electrification ratio reached 99.9 percent.

The electrification ratio itself refers to the ratio of the number of household customers with electricity from both PLN electricity and non-PLN electricity to the total number of households.