The Directorate General of New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration and District Government of Timor Tengah Utara, supported by GGGI held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on September 12, 2019 in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

This FGD aims to find out the readiness of the NTT Provincial Government and the NTT Regional Electricity Company (PLN) in the context of renewable energy development, commitment and support from the central government, as well as to discuss the stages to realize the program. This event is part of a series of pre-feasibility studies of the NTT Biomass Power Plant (PLTBm).

Relevant ministry officials participated in this event, such as the Director of Bioenergy of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Director of Development and Transmigration Area Infrastructure and Facilities Development of the Ministry of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration, and General Manager of Planning of the NTT Regional PLN.

In the event, the Head of Agreement between PT PP Energi and PT Flobamor was signed with a commitment from PT Flobamor to supply biomass fuel as part of the development of community-based renewable energy in NTT. The signing was also witnessed directly by the Vice Governor of NTT, Josef Nae Soi.

Biomass fuel transaction between IPP and Flobamor will give a direct economic impact to the community of which play a role as the source of raw material. Through this concept, the synergy between PLN, IPP and local community will be closely intertwined and mutual.

The Biomass Power Plant will be designed to absorb various sources of existing biomass raw materials and new biomass, including gamal felling, forest residues, bamboo, plantation pruning, as well as other biomass that fall into the category of waste.

This community-based Biomass Power Plant development concept will be a model of renewable energy development in the Archipelago with a 24-hour of stable without the need for support from other power plants. In addition, this program is also exemplifies the synergy between the State-Owned Enterprise and Regional-Owned Enterprise through the commitment to supply and absorb biomass fuels.