Eastern Indonesia is known to have a lower electrification ratio than other parts of the country. However, with its potential nature, building more West Papua hydropower is promising, and such a plant will provide the required electricity and improve its economy.
The best part about hydropower is that it is a new energy source that is renewable and richly available in Indonesia, especially in Papua. Knowing the benefits of hydropower may help us realize its importance so we can continue developing them. Let’s find out the information in the following:
Benefits of Hydropower
The government should start developing hydropower due to its vast benefits while keeping nature clean. Let’s learn the advantages of hydropower in the following:
1. Cheap
Water power will definitely be the cheapest resource compared to other energy sources such as coal mines or oil. Surely, it requires higher initial investment to build the required plant, but the energy source is free to get.
2. Provide Enormous Energy
Hydropower can grant us enormous energy because water’s gigantic mass can provide abundant power. One hydroelectric power station can cover the energy needed by many people.
3. Build to Demand
Hydropower energy is adaptable because each region can maximize it according to its own needs.
4. Serve as an Irrigation System
Aside from granting the required energy, hydropower also serves as an irrigation system. Thus, the neighboring farming areas will also benefit from this hydropower.
5. Helps Keep the Nature
The water contained in a giant reservoir is useful because it can help prevent flooding as well as water the drained land nearby. It also produces no harmful emissions, so the surrounding nature will remain intact.
6. Provides Recreational Spot
The giant water reservoir provides recreational openings such as fishing, camping, boating, kayaking, and even swimming.
West Papua Potential for Hydropower Plants
Papua already owns and is about to build some Hydropower plants within its region to meet local electricity needs.
The following is the list of those plants:
1. Micro Hydro Power Plant (PLMTH) Kali Ombak
Currently, this plant produces 35kW ofelectricity to cover 55 houses within the three nearby neighborhoods. Marcus Mayan, one of the village chiefs, expresses his gratitude for getting the benefits of the hydropower plant for his people.
He also hopes that the government will help maintain the operation to continue its best performance in providing electricity for nearby villages.
2. Micro Hydro Power Plant (PLMTH) Anggi in Kampung Upper, Anggi, Arfak mountains
This plant offers a huge potential because it will serve 3,000 MW of electricity for the nearby region. The Arfak regent, Yosias Saroy, started the groundbreaking on Wednesday, 25 May 2022. He hopes that this plant will bring good power and improve the local economy.
3. Micro Hydro Power Plant (PLMTH) Prafi in Manokwari
This plant can cover the electricity needs of 5 villages in the nearby area, including Nuhuwei, Susmorof, and Yamboi. The government tries its best, so this plant can cover more villages within the area.
Japan’s Investments in Hydropower in Indonesia
Japan has participated in building many power plant projects in Indonesia, Japan has participated in building many power plant projects in Indonesia, including a hydropower plant in Kayan, Borneo. Now, Japan is interested in investing in Hydropower in Papua Barat due to its boundless potential.
Basuki Hadimuljono, the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing, stated that Japan would invest in dam and hydropower plant constructions in Timika, Papua. This plant is arranged to cover the electricity needs of PT Freeport Indonesia.
However, he has not learned the total investment value because Japan will provide the information later. Hopefully, Japan’s investment in West Papua hydropower will help improve the availability of electricity in Papua as well as increase the local standard of living.
