Papagarang Solar Power Plant Brings Light and Hope to Villagers
In a semi-permanent building with bamboo slats and a tarpaulin roof, Irwan, 27, was making wooden window frames ordered by other villager.
By
Ismail Zakaria
·5 minutes read
Kompas/Priyombodo
Bin Boy (left) and Irham are two PLTS Papagarang guards on Papagarang Island, Komodo District, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, Friday (1/10/2021).
The noise of the wood shaving machine sounded loud, breaking the silence on the coast of Lamolo Jaya hamlet, Papagarang village, Komodo district, West Manggarai regency, East Nusa Tenggara, at 1:30 p.m. local time on Friday.
In a semi-permanent building with bamboo slats and a tarpaulin roof, Irwan, 27, was making wooden window frames ordered by other villager. While he was focusing on work, the wood shaving machine suddenly turned off. However, Irwan remained calm. He asked his son to turn on the electricity meter. When the electricity was on again, Irwan continued his work.
However, after just a few minutes, the shaver machine suddenly turned off again. Irwan again asked his son to turn on the electricity meter. He also asked him to turn off other electronic devices. After the second incident, the meter, with a power of 900 volt amperes (VA), no longer turned off. Irwan restarted the shaving machine and smoothed out the wooden frame.
"The power outages are normal. Now the situation is much better than before the operation of the PLTS [solar power plant],” he said.
Irwan is one of more than 1,500 residents of Papagarang who are now benefiting from the operation of the PLTS Papagarang solar power plant, which has a capacity of 380 kilowatts. The PLTS has been operating since November 2019.
The operation of the solar power plant, which runs 24 hours, has had a positive impact on residents of the island, which is part of Komodo National Park. The electricity is not just used for lighting but also for businesses that could not be previously run optimally because of the lack of electricity.
Irwan, for example, bought five liters of gasoline per day. If he had to work full time, he had to buy 10 liters.
When the village used a diesel generator, the residents of Papagarang had to pay Rp 10,000 per day. If they used their own generator set, they had to spend a lot of money to buy fuel. Irwan, for example, bought five liters of gasoline per day. If he had to work full time, he had to buy 10 liters.
At that time, the price of gasoline in Papagarang was Rp 10,000 per liter. This meant that Irwan spent some Rp 50,000 to Rp 100,000 per day to buy gasoline, including for house lighting. In a month, the bill could reach Rp 3 million.
“Now, we only spend around Rp 100,000 (US$7.10) per month, not only for work equipment, but also for home lighting and electronic devices. We can save a lot of money for other needs,” said Mirawati, 28, Irwan's wife.
Kompas/Priyombodo
Residents show smart electricity that illuminates their homes on Papagarang Island, Komodo District, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, Friday (1/10/2021).
Sukirman, 66, who builds bagan (fishing platforms) on a daily basis, experienced the difficulty of living without electricity and relied on resin lamps or Petromax. “Before there was electricity, all my tools were manual. It could take about five months just to make one bagan. Now that there is electricity, I can work faster because I use electrical tools,” he said.
New business
The operation of the solar power plant not only enables residents to save money on fuel, it also allows them to open new businesses that were not previously viable because of a lack of electricity.
Syahrani, 46, a resident of Tanjung Keramat hamlet, has been running a water refilling business for the last six months. In addition to making a profit, he also wants to provide the villagers an easy access to clean water, which has been a problem in Papagarang. "Of course this water machine will not run if there is no electricity, like now," he said.
So, I am very happy with the operation of the PLTS and could save to buy a refrigerator.
Another business that emerged was the production of ice cubes. Afna, 52, and Wirnawati, 31, have been producing ice cubes since the opening of PLTS Papagarang last year. “I've wanted a refrigerator for long time so I could sell ice cubes. Moreover, my husband is a fisherman who needs ice cubes to keep the fish fresh. So, I am very happy with the operation of the PLTS and could save to buy a refrigerator,” said Wirnawati.
Beyond economic activity
The operation of the solar power plant has not only helped people run businesses, it has also facilitated teaching and learning in Papagarang, such as at Papagarang state elementary school. The head of SDN Papagarang elementary school, Ahmad Hardin, 39, said that before the operation of the power plant, he had to go to Labuan Bajo to get new educational materials. Now, with
electricity available for 24 hours a day, Ahmad no longer needs to go to Labuan Bajo to get teaching materials because he can download them through the internet.
“All classrooms have also been equipped with electrical installations. Whenever needed, a projector can be used in the classroom. Schools can also operate a water pump to provide water for the school’s toilets,” said Ahmad.
Kompas/Priyombodo
The atmosphere in one of the houses of residents enjoying television entertainment on Papagarang Island, Komodo District, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, Friday (1/10/2021).
The operation of the solar power plant is not yet perfect, but its presence has brought light and hope for a better life for the people of Papagarang.
(This article was translated byHendarsyah Tarmizi).
