PROBOLINGGO, BERITAKATA.id - Plaosan Village is a remote village located in Krucil District, precisely at the end of Probolinggo Regency. Prior to 2019, the village still did not have adequate electricity.

Paiton Energy (PE)-Paiton Operation Maintenance Indonesia (POMI) invited a number of journalists to explore the village located in the Argopuro mountains to see the development of electricity there in the Journalist Trip activity, Wednesday (26/10/2022).

The mountain trails there have access to rock and dirt roads, adding to the excitement of the trip.

Along the way, the journalists drove a Taft jeep to suit the terrain. Not all four-wheeled vehicles are able to pass through the streets there.

The first objective of the activity was a review of the MHP (Microhydro Power Plant). This power plant is small-scale, using hydropower as its driving force such as irrigation canals, rivers or natural waterfalls by utilizing the height of the falls and the amount of water discharge.

Journalists drove five jeeps to approach the location. Arriving at the destination, it is still necessary to walk to reach the intended PLTMH. Fatigue is not too pronounced because the journalists are presented with such beautiful natural scenery.

In Plaosan Village, PE-POMI has presented a PLTMH facility with the label Energy Learning House. The PLTMH is fully operational. The PLTMH with a capacity of 7 Kw is located at Kali Pedati Waterfall.

The PLTMH was built in Plaosan Village, whose geographical location is difficult to reach for electricity from PT PLN (Persero) because of its hilly natural conditions.

Head of External Relations at PT Paiton Energy, Bambang Jiwantoro, said that the PLTMH there is managed by the PLTMH group with 14 family heads (KK).

“For remote areas, the presence of renewable energy such as MHP is very important to improve the welfare of rural communities and surrounding areas. We build PLTMH here also involving children who are interns at PE-POMI,” said Bambang.

Meanwhile, POMIs Human Resources Manager, Rochman Hidayat, said that the current benefits of the Energy Learning House program in Plaosan Village are that the electricity produced is more stable, areas with limited access are now electrified from the construction of the PLTMH.

“The PLTMH facility in Plaosan Village has a capacity of ±7000 watts which is divided into 14 families with a total power per household of ± 500 watts. For the manufacture itself, it is around Rp. 200 million more," said Rochman.

Next, journalists and PE-POMI ranks moved to the house of the Plaosan Village Head, Tosan. The trip continues using a jeep. Beautiful mountain views also color our adventure.

Arriving there, the group of journalists and PE:POMI were warmly welcomed and served with various dishes typical of Plaosan Village, including milk which is one of the characteristics of Krucil District.

Tosan explained, since the arrival of PE-POMI to his village in 2019, various sectors of life in the village he leads have started to move well because the MHP that was built produces electricity that meets the needs of its citizens.

He said that before the PLTMH was established, electricity was very difficult to obtain. When night fell, all the activities of the residents began to be hampered because of the darkness of the night. Lighting was still using incandescent lamps at that time.

"Plus when someone gave birth at night. We were very overwhelmed because there was no electricity at that time. Now everything is easy. The electricity from the MHP drives all sectors, from education which allows our children to study at night to the economy. We can use a cake making machine, we can even incubate eggs because of this electricity,” said Tosan. Ig/fat