Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Affirmed Until The End of Electric Year does not Increase

INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta - The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Ignatius Jonan confirmed that until the end of 2017 electricity tariffs will not rise.

"Yes, still committed (not to raise electricity rates), the President and we all try not to raise electricity tariffs until the end of this year, so if the electricity tariffs fall," said Jonan in an official statement from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources monitored in Jakarta, Monday (4/9/2017)

To be able to lower the electricity tariff, PLN is required to perform efficiency-efficiency including the price of raw materials used energy sources. "PLN is obliged to conduct energy efficiency, it has been a big commitment from PLN to make efficiency so that if the production cost is changed, it can still be handled, actually the primary energy such as coal, oil and gas, and we have already set the regulation where the price can be reached," said Jonan.

In addition to its energy source, Jonan also suggested PLN to start controlling governance and electrical management such as maintenance processes.

"One of the posts that will be exposed to the efficiency process is about maintenance but not reducing maintenance, but making maintenance costs more competitive and efficient, without reducing what needs to be maintained," Jonan said.

He thinks rotating blackouts are not a thing to be taught except for natural disturbance.

Furthermore, Jonan said that the big job that the government has to bear now is melistriki areas that currently have no electricity which amounted to about 2,500 villages and in accordance with the direction of Mr. President Jokowi, the Government is obliged to provide electricity to them.

"President Yudhoyono has issued a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) for us to give the village lighting yet electrified with pre-electrification program, the provision of energy-efficient solar lamps for free, this year through APBN instead of PLN." The two-year program should be completed.

As for the permanent electrification program using PLN network. But he explained, if there is no PLN network it will install its own installation. There are still more than 10 thousand villages with insufficient electricity, and have not been flooded all.

"I just last week from Rupat island bordering Malaysia also from 12 thousand KK, 9,000 have been powered by PLN and PLN is also committed in 2019 all there will be electricity network. If there is no power grid in 2,500 villages then we install sollar system use lights first, and this is a government priority," said Jonan.