Kotabaru govt opens electricity investment

Kotabaru, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The Kotabaru Regency government in South Kalimantan is opening investment in electricity to accelerate services for under-electrified areas.

Deputy Regent H Syairi Mukhlis informed that the electrification ratio in Kotabaru has now reached 97.52 percent. However, several villages remain without electricity, particularly in remote areas.

“Of the total 203 villages and urban villages, several still lack electricity. We hope in 2026 all areas will be electrified, including remote areas such as Pulau Sembilan and mainland areas with difficult access,” he said when visiting PT PLN Main Distribution Unit of South and Central Kalimantan (UID Kalselteng) in Banjarbaru.

The visit aims to build synergy between local government and PLN in supporting regional development, especially in electricity sector.

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“I represent Kotabaru Regent H Muhammad Rusli. Essentially, we want to strengthen synergy for the progress of Kotabaru, especially in electricity. Currently, village electrification has reached 97.52 percent,” he said.

Syairi hopes electrification progress to continue, including in mainland areas such as Limbur Village, which is in the submitting process through the state budget (APBN) to the central government.

“We are targeting all regions to be 100 percent electrified by 2028. This is crucial to support investment, as electricity demand is a key consideration for investors,” he said.

In addition, the Kotabaru government is also opening up investment oportunities as widely as possible. One of plans being prepared is washing plant construction in Tanjung Batu village, Kelumpang Tengah Sub-district.

Read also: Regent officiates 24 hour electricity in Kotabaru's Kelumpang Utara

In response, PLN Senior Manager of Commerce and Customer Management Muhammad Ari Fikri stated that the company is ready to support the electricity needs for investment in Kotabaru.

He expounded that several technical obstacles, such as transmission tower, are being processed at the central level. Nevertheless, PLN is committed to expediting the development of electricity infrastructure.

“We fully support this, as electricity demand will increase with the entry of industry. However, further process such as site suveys and coordination with investors are needed,” he explained.