Cheerful faces of Napajoring’s villagers, Nassau, Toba Samosir Regency, North Sumatera, welcoming delegation comes from afar. They’ve been waiting since the morning, even Governors, heads of Department and District Government staff Tobasa already stay overnight in Nassau to set everything up. It’s reasonable because this remote village, rarely visited by officials, moreover, from Jakarta.
The group consists of production deputy of the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (KUKM), I Wayan Dipta, Assistant Deputy of electricity and various business affairs, Viktoria Simanungkalit. Later, the Director of the Empowerment of cooperatives and SMEs National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), Adi Putra Alfian, Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Regional Working Unit Tobasa and journalists. After a transit in the capital district of Habinsaran, Parsomburan, this delegation using double cabin cars because the terrain is very difficult. Parsomburan – Nassau reached within two hours. In June, 14, 2014, Micro Hydro Power Station (PLTMH) owned by Multipurpose Cooperative (KSU) Mitra Keluarga inaugurated.
Saut Tua Siagian, the Village head of Napajoring in his speech said the very proud over the attention given by the Government. “This is miracle. We could meet officials,” he said. He also asked to immediately built the road in his village. Agricultural sales prices be minimal because transportation costs are expensive. Educators in Napajoring elementary school should also be increased.
After Saut, Chairman of KSU Mitra Keluarga, Manahara Pardosi reported his responsibility for PLTMH 2013 projects with total Rp 1,930 billion. He started the story that the cooperative was a social gathering consist of 20 people. In 2002 the KSU Mitra Keluarga was formed with 25 members and Rp 2 million capital authorized. Four years later, he became Chairman of this cooperative until now. “The cooperative currently consists of 485 people in the two districts, Labuhan Batu and Tobasa. Its business volume is Rp 4 billion and the wealth is Rp 2.7 billion,” he said.
For PLTMH, the budget is not completely from the country. It assisted by PT Inalum Persero through CSR funds. As a result, PLTMH with 36 to 40 KW power could light up 95 houses for free, and five public service such as school, church and polyclinic. “Obviously, this is cutdown the living expenses,” he said. Manahara added, every day, half liter of kerosene used by the people for lighting or Rp 200 thousand per month. Plus cost for cook, iron and others about Rp 100 thousand per month.
Now there are no more costs, but this is specifically for cooperative members. Outside members, we charge Rp 50.000 per month. “Not expensive rather than have to spend Rp 300.000 every month. This is its economic impact,” he explained.
What has been done today because of mentoring by his party. Before he became Chairman of the cooperative, the members are not able to run it. “Cooperative runs by people of the village are not running, must be accompanied. I should back and forth Jakarta – Parsoburan to build cooperative, with my own expense,” he said. Without accompaniment, in the village could not go forward. “I asked the government to provide companion staff.”
Before closing his report and make the audience sleepy, Manahara said, PLTMH is suitable for the electrical program entered the village. Besides cheaper, and easier treatment also unnecessary open woodland for installation. “Hopefully this kind of cooperative grows again,” he said.
KSU Mitra Keluarga was one of ten cooperative that receives grants from KUKM to manage PLTMH in order to boost the economy through the utilization of energy in productive (rural business) in 10 regencies in the province of Aceh, North Sumatera, West Sumatera, South Sumatera, NTT, NTB, South Sulawesi and West Sulawesi. In the program KUKM, GIZ through Energising Development (EnDev) Indonesia provides support in the form of capacity building and business manager of PLTMH, continuous monitoring, as well as the technical review of PLTMH development.
Robert Schultz, Senior Advisor for EnDev Indonesia explained, growing and encourage the development of the local economy is one of the most valuable benefits that can be provided by an electrical access. This is not only a measure of sustainability that is vital to rural infrastructure, but also empowering communities by way of using the potential of entrepreneurship.
Closing the event, Regent Tobasa Simanjuntak said PLTMH in Napajoring using water power from small streams and irrigation canals that lead from a certain height and the water discharge adjusted to move turbine associated with electric generator.
“KSU Mitra Keluarga gets a social assistance from the State Budget (APBD) 2013 amounting Rp 1.5 billion. But the resulting in the difficulty reaching PLTMH increasing mobilization costs than the available funds so the District Government allocates funding through P-APBD 2013 amounting Rp 430 million,” said Regent.
The show closed with a Tor-tor dance performances by elementary school students 177676 Napajoring. The student been training since a month ago, seemed pleased when receiving money from guest who came. They are not needlessly waiting since the morning. Then, the delegation left the site quickly to Laguboti, then to Silangit airport and flew to Jakarta. While the people back to their home. Down the street, under the sun that biting while nursing a child. Occasionally seen, they take shelter in leafy of rubber or palm.
The neighboring village, Sipagabu and Liat Tondung, five hour trip, still unreachable. 1000 residents of the two villages are living in the dark. As if, it justify the fact that the 69-year-independence of Indonesia, national electrification ratio recently reached only 80 percent. This means that 20 percent of Indonesia society mainly rural communities untouched electric lighting so that public access to energy is still limited. (Mei)