Papua to develop renewable energy village

The Central Papua provincial administration is developing a self-reliant renewable energy village by launching a pioneering project in 2010. The remark was made by the head of the Papua Mining and Energy Agency Jannes Johan Karubaba, responding to the implementation of the provincial program of “Papua Terang” (Bright Papua). In the meantime, Pegunungan Bintang regency is being developed into a micro-hydro producing center, and solar power plants are being built in 50 villages and will later cover 3,000 villages with assistance from the central government. Under Presidential Decree No. 5/2006, biofuel use will be increased by 5% of the total national consumption, while petroleum-based products’ use will be reduced to 20%. (February 2, 2010)