The Right Leverage for Sustainability

Micro hydropower sustainability can be defined from many points of view. One can view it from hardware quality. As long as the scheme has high quality hardware, it will be sustainable. One can view it also from human resources capacity. As long as the operator maintains the scheme well, the scheme will be sustainable. I believe, the sustainability of a micro hydropower scheme depends on many things such as hardware quality, management and operation, social condition and environment. Sustainability combines technology, human, and environment.

Part of management and operation aspect is financial condition of MHP scheme. Financial status is important for maintenance and repair. This specific aspect is heavily related to socio economic condition of the community. From my observation in the field, many communities are always complaining about tariff. They said it is too high for them. I never have doubts in them but when they are rushing to buy satellite receiver after electricity is on, I started to have doubts. The question is why do they make such statement (tariff is too high for them)? I conclude that the reason behind this is their livelihood. They are depending on agriculture that cannot give them regular income (i.e. monthly).


The condition needs right actions to be taken. Those actions should be the right leverage to increase sustainability of a micro hydropower scheme. I believe actions taken for below mentioned aspects might have bigger chance to increase MHP scheme sustainability (i.e. financially):

1. Productive activities for Women to increase family income
2. Improve agriculture production chain. Not just producing raw materials. Improve the value of the products
3. Improve agriculture practice e.g. less usage of artificial fertilizer etc.
4. Education for men and women especially in family financial planning.

I put family financial planning as important part. This is because villagers, where MHP scheme usually located, are not used to plans. This is easily found when one do a survey. When you ask, how much kerosene you use per week? They’ll have difficulties in answering. They never plan and never records. Everything goes like it is. You have it then you consume it. You do not have it, you wait until you have and then consume. Saving is not common. Changes of behavior that can touch ego e.g. smoking, might be important to introduce although resistance will be high.

Who should do all of these? Micro hydropower is a small part of bigger program. It is just the tool, the entrance to bigger program i.e. poverty alleviation. The respective departments should do their job integrally for one purpose. Indonesia still have difficulties in implementing this approach so let’s hope there is a mass brain wash in the heads of government officials so that they talk to each other and work in a good synergy. Until then, let's try to talk to each other and make synergy.

(how to read the diagram? (+) usually means adding: adding the chance, positively influence et. Example: Bugs adds the chance of bad crops, agriculture increase the chance to have irregular income, irregular income increase the chance of inability to pay regular fee. (-) sign usually means reducing. Example: education improve family financial planning (reduce the lack of family financial planning))

Kerosene to Gas Conversion

I was so happy when my favorite “nasi goreng” seller starts using 3 kg Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). He said the LPG cost is much cheaper than kerosene’s. He had to buy at least 3 liters of kerosene per night before converting to LPG. Now he only pays once every three days for 3 kg LPG can. He does not have to change his stove. With little modification, the old kerosene stove can be used. I was so happy that the skepticism on the conversion has lost the game. People are now using LPG. Maybe this only happens in urban areas. The government still has a lot of homework to distribute LPG to rural areas. Since kerosene is hard to find, people in rural areas are back to firewood.

Kerosene stove easily creating problems. I believe kerosene stoves sets fire in many-crowded settlements in Indonesia, especially Jakarta. Kerosene stove is not easily killed. Sometimes if the fire on the wick is not dead, the stove can explode. Explosion can start fire and many may lost their belongings. Converting to gas reduce the chance of stove explosion and reduce the chance of fire. Gas stove is easily killed. You are sure when you kill the stove. The “click” sound starts and fire is then gone. It is safe.

Gas stove produce fire with higher calorific value. If one keeps the gas stove clean the fire on the stove will be blue. Blue flame shows that it has high calorific value. Kerosene stove achieves such condition hardly. This will affect cooking time and efficient use of energy. It finally will affect the overall energy cost for cooking. If ladies are the ones responsible for cooking then they will have more free time to spend. They can choose to use their free time productively or lazily. Gas stove free up the ladies.

Gas flame does not produce smoke and does not smell. When there is leak, the gas will smell. The kerosene flame usually gives a special trace on the food. It tastes different when nasi goreng is cooked using gas stove. It has purer taste and not “oily” taste (only if the same guy cook it). Concerning the smoke, when somebody kills kerosene smoke, the stove will produce white fume. It is the unburned kerosene. It smells very bad and sticks to your clothes. It is not healthy also. Changing to LPG stove will improve health (especially related to respiratory system) and comfort.

I think, LPG stove and can gives people a lesson on how to manage their finance better, especially for less fortunate families. Kerosene you can buy one liter or even half a liter. You can buy it anytime so that you never record the consumption and never care how much you spend for it. With the LPG you really have to calculate. If one can lasts for 4 days then in one month one will know how much money he has to prepare. This is purely theoretical, one has to prove it in the slumps of Jakarta whether this is true or not true.

But success will not be a success without any negative comparison. Distribution of 3 kg cans is a bit problematic (even in the urban or semi urban area). Price is becoming higher now (there is this pressure to put a price cap for 3 kg cans and also 12 kg cans). Distribution to remote areas is still not working. Local producer cannot supply good quality cans to Pertamina. There are still “bad” distributors that reduce the content of the can and get the profit illegally (as Muslim says – Haram). Distribution of free can and LPG stove is not targeted well because some middle-income families get the subsidized stoves and cans.

It is assumed that rural communities have other options to replace kerosene (i.e. firewood) therefore the kerosene consumption is lower compared to urban consumption. Therefore, conversion from kerosene to LPG should be successful in urban areas where there is bigger consumption. Significant conversion will surely reduce the level of kerosene demand. Since kerosene is still imported and LPG can be produced locally, the government should be able to save more money (foreign currency) and strengthen the value of Rupiah and macro economy of the country.

Support the LPG conversion!! But regulate the market better and distribute the conversion package better!!

picture : www.okezone.com

Micro Hydropower Interconnection - Where is it now?

PSK Tersebar!!!! Do not get me wrong. It does not stand for Pekerja Sex Komersial (PSK) or sex worker, but Pembangkit Skala Kecil (PSK – Small Scale Generation). Tersebar means distributed. PSK Tersebar is Distributed Small Scale Generation. It is an important ministerial decree about interconnection of small-scale renewable energy generation to utility i.e. PLN (Perusahaan Listrik Negara). This decree was enacted in 2002. Therefore, this year he is already 6 years old.

How many small-scale renewable energy generators have been interconnected based on this decree? As far as I know: less than 10. In fact I can mention it: Micro Hydro Power (MHP) Seloliman I, MHP Seloliman II, MHP Wangan Aji (contract given – realization still o), MHP Melong, MHP Cinta Mekar, MHP Salido Kecil, and there is one in Sulawesi. How many? Seven MHPs. On average 1 MHP each year. I would say – it is not good.

Why this has been so difficult? Out of 7 only 2 are purely private initiation. The other 5 are semi-private because they involve high rank lobby (e.g. high profile NGO activist, ex director general, director of one important directorate in the government etc.) and not purely private financed (government project, ADB, GEF, UNESCAP etc.). Important message here is the 5 MHPs won the interconnection contract due to “high profile lobby”. Private can also do but you’ve got very low buying price. It is then very difficult for private sector because private sector sees an investment from its profitability. Buying price usually show the profitability of interconnected MHP project. If the price is low, better put the money in the bank.

So the buying price is low. Why is it low? PLN as buyer argues that they sell electricity at a certain price so PLN only buy electric power with price lower than PLN’s selling price. It is very logic. PLN wants some profit margin of it. But PLN has some memory problems. Big Independent Power Producers (IPP) wie Paiton in Ost Java got a big price for selling power to PLN. The price is in US$. The selling price is way higher than PLN’s tariff to customer. This is very contradictive. But, that was because of power abuse during Suharto Era. Now who’s abusing the power? It is PLN…

When PLN deals with small business like those under PSK Tersebar regulation, PLN positions itself as a pure business entity. PLN forgets that it gets subsidies from government for its fossil fuel generation. PLN get subsidies therefore the electricity tariff for customer is also subsidized. The tariff is already distorted. It is not a pure tariff. Small private companies cannot compete in distorted market. PLN gives pressure the business so that business can accept the terms of PLN...that's abusive

There should be market deregulation. PLN should not monopolize the market or the sector. It does not have to be direct 100% privatization in one night. More transparency is enough and everybody will appreciate that. It is too bad that Law No.20 of 2002 was cancelled by Constitution Court (Mahkamah Konstitusi). The law is actually brings a fresh wind to the sector.

What about the regulation itself? Does it need to be improved? I say yes…for example: let’s give longer contract term not annual; let’s give clearer and simpler procedure without negotiation. For small-scale generation (below 1 MW), one cannot talk pure business. It should be straight forward without complex negotiation.

Finally, what’s the idea to improve private sector involvement in small scale renewable generation? Let’s see the work of IMIDAP (Integrated Microhydro Development and Application Program). Let’s hope that they do their best or else…

Election - Why so little participation?

24 August 2008 was the election date for Bupati (Head of Regency) of Bogor. In total there are approximately 2 million registered voters. In my neighborhood, there are 370 registered voters. This election has left me some important notes:

1. Many eligible voters are not registered. There are some complaints to the local election committee. All are complaining about their missing vote rights. Many are not registered and thus their names are not listed in the master list. The election regulation does not allow people to use their rights without the invitation. This year we have two important elections; first is governor of West Java election and the second is head of Bogor Regency election. People that have voted for West Java Governor have lost their rights to vote for Bogor Regency Bupati. This actually did not happen to my Rukun Tetangga (RT – smallest neighborhood group) but it happened to other RT. The fault is not on the RT’s administration but on the Demography Office. People in that office did not cross check with other data and just inputting new data. This has made people lost their voting rights. This condition became worst because Regency Election Committee (Komiter Pemilihan Umum Daerah – KPUD) gave all data just one day before the election day (That’s 24 hours before election day) and 24 hours is the limit for unlisted voters to ask for their rights to the local election committee. I suspect all of these have been a big scenario. The experts from each candidate (usually only special candidate) can read the supporters’ strength of other candidates in each area. Using their influence, campaign committee can push the right button in the election committee (KPUD) to erase as many voters as possible in specific areas and influence the chance of specific candidate to lost the election in that specific area. This happens everywhere including the U.S. (I remember “The Stupid White Men”).
2. Registered voters did not vote. Those that were invited to vote did not vote. They simply just throw away their rights and ignore their obligation. I am on the opinion that this is not a mature action. Nowadays many people can only complain and ask for their rights. Many are not answering for their obligations. I am on the opinion that, when you already pay your dues then you can ask for your rights. It is very natural; you’ve got to work before you get your bread. Jakarta people said – ke laut aje (go to sea) – for those kind of people (sorry I try not to say the “f” word like “go “f” yourself). OK..lah…go “f” yourself. Those kind of people have no single right to say about the new bupati’s policy or regulations
3. Lack of program dissemination by candidates. This can also influence the level of voters participation in a negative way i.e. potential voters do not vote. Many voters that came to the voting place said that they do not know the candidates and their programs. The day the vote is the first time they knew about the candidates. Candidate should have visited their potential voters. Do some campaigns and interact with potential voters. If it is possible do a debate and really show the content of their heads (I heard there was a debate session during campaign phase). Maybe my area is not important enough for those candidates therefore they did not visit and interact with the people there.

Other reasons? Let me think more…

Speed Up Your Speedy Access

Some months ago our Telkom Speedy (http://www.telkomspeedy.com/) access was upgraded. Telkom has just improved their infrastructure and they gave free speed upgrade. The connection in my office use Unlimited Office that cost IDR 750.000 per month. The speed was 256 kbps (not KB/s). After upgrading, the download speed is 1024 kbps or 1 mbps while the upload speed is only around 128 kbps.

After upgrading, there is significant speed increase for internet connection. I usually have problems listening to SKY FM UpTempo Smooth Jazz Internet Radio with my freeware Screamer Internet Radio (http://www.screamer-radio.com/). Usually the streaming is stopping because the software is buffering the audio file. After upgrading, that problem never occurs.

But, I am still not satisfied. I often download freeware from the Internet and the highest download speed is only around 100 KB/second (kilo byte per second). At first I thought kbps is the same as KB/second but yahoo answer and many other sources told me that they are not the same. Kilo bit per second (kbps) is not the same as kilo byte per second (KB/second). In one byte there are 8 bits, therefore 100 KB/second is the same as 800 kbps. I did not understand this unit when I filed a complain to Telkom Speedy. I tried to test my connection speed to http://www.speedtest.net/ and found that my download speed is only around 500 kbps (although the actual can reach 100 KB/second or 800 kbps).

Browse the Internet then I found in a forum that if one change a parameter in the registry (global receive window - RWIN) to a bigger value, the download speed can increase significantly. Further browsing the Internet, I found this tiny freeware called TCPOptimizer from http://www.speedguide.net/. This software had made the tweaking process easier. Just slide the bar and all will be adjusted automatically. I then tried to test the speed again and it is significantly improved. Download speed is becoming almost 900 kbps although upload speed is still the same (around 100 kbps). Maybe if slide the bar further to the right, the speed might be a little higher than what I have now (more than 900 kbps). So, if you have Internet connection problem (slow download speed) try this TCPOptimizer. You can download it for free at www.speedguide.net. Hope it's useful. Bonus of highspeed Internet is nice streamin performance. Youtube or Internet Radio work flawlessly.

Independence Day

17 August is the Independence Day of Indonesia. History records that on 17 August 1945, the founding fathers were proclaiming the independence of Indonesia in Jakarta. At that time, Japanese troops did not make any resistance because they just lost the WWII war from the Allies. It was the right moment for Indonesians to declare independence.

Indonesian fought for independence very hard. Since 1600s the Dutch has colonized Indonesia. The resistances were usually sporadic and local in nature therefore the Dutch easily defeated them using advanced warfare technology. The Dutch also implemented “devide et impera” strategy to break the cultural bonds between Indonesians.

Spirit of Nationalism was raised in Indonesia in the early 1900s. Young national thinkers and founding fathers have pushed all components the nation to unite and fight against the Dutch colonization. WW II has brought Japan to Indonesia. They defeated the Dutch in Indonesia. Since 1943, Indonesia was under Japanese “ruthless” colonization. But our time come when the Allies defeated Japan in 1945. Indonesians proclaimed the independence.

There was one important factor that played great role in the independence of Indonesia. The enemy was obvious i.e. the Dutch or the Japanese. Because of that, resistance spirit is very high. People did the resistance without any “hidden agenda”. It was always came from the heart. All sacrifices are for the country and independence. There was “spiritual factor” in it. People believe in God the Almighty and with pure intention, God has helped Indonesian to be independent. There were many martyrs died during the fight for Independence.

After the declaration of Independence, the Dutch tried to go back to Indonesia with the help from the Allies. The Dutch has done two military aggressions between 1945 and 1949. The conflict was settled in Den Haag in 1949. For the Dutch, 1949 is the year when they “gave” Indonesia independence. For us, 1945 is the year we finally proclaimed independence. No one gave it to Indonesians except the Indonesians them selves.

After the independence, Sukarno, our founding father, has indicated that there is one big hard to defeat enemy. This enemy is “our selves”. It is very hard to defeat our selves. It is very hard to make one self not being selfish. It is our problem now. One can see that national achievements are decreasing in quality from year to year. In the 60s, Indonesia was strong and solid in all aspects e.g. sports and military. In the new century, Indonesia has come to the lowest point of National history. Corruption and low economic performance and many poor people are some of many signs. Indonesia is not “seriously” considered as a powerful nation anymore. One can always say, Indonesia is now the victim of new colonialism.

It is true that controlling one’s self and greed is very hard. It needs spiritual strength within every person and most importantly the leaders. The leaders must know the way, show the way and lead the way. They must set standards and examples. The strength from God Almighty is very important. If all are based on God then the result will be good.

With all my weaknesses, I tried to start changes from home. I believe that a nation acts like a body and family is the cell. If the cell is in good condition, the body will be healthy. If the family is strong and everybody in it has strong character, the nation will also be strong. Like “ayah Edi” said “Indonesia Strong from Home”. Let’s go back to our families and set the high standard from home.

Free yourself to be the best.

Patience is the Key

Managing a micro hydropower scheme in rural area is not as easy as it looks like. The scheme itself is already complicated for common people. Understanding micro hydropower terms takes quite a long time and mastering the operation of a specific scheme will take longer time. It is a leap for micro hydropower managers, especially the operators. It is not a small leap but a huge leap.

People new to electricity will have very huge expectations. They very much enjoy the new situation. They have very high demand towards the managers especially the operators. Sometimes if not to say often, they seem to be more knowledgeable than the trained operators or managers. A little whisper from outsiders (not always 100% correct) about the weakness of the system will make them to “revolt”, although most of the time the whisper is far from the fact.

Why people act like that? Usually the basic problem is because those people have low understanding of the system and its limitation. Dissemination usually is not done enough and during it, people are usually shy to ask questions. Because of that, some “knowledgeable” people are then explaining the wrongly understood dissemination material making further confusion to the people. Because of this lack of understanding, misunderstanding happens and the victims are micro hydropower managers especially the operators.

Bad quality hardware also makes the situation worse. The usual case in Indonesia is bad design, bad controller, oversized turbine, and bad mini circuit breakers (there are actually more, but space is the limitation). The last creates most social problems in places where I have visited. Bad MCBs have different sensitivities. It is cheap, therefore it is contractor’s favorite. This different performance of MCBs creates jealousy between neighbors. Why this person can use “A” appliances while I cannot? What did you do to his meter? Those kinds of questions are common questions to managers or operators. In bigger scale, people can revolt and being destructive.

So, as far as I had observed lack of understanding and bad hardware are the perfect ingredients for micro hydropower related social problems. According to one MHP manager I met recently, the key to such thing is patience and of course understanding of the system. Patience is still more important because usually MHP managers must handle emotional customers with “no way” attitude. In front of such customer, discussing technical thing in a rational way is not a good strategy.

It is actually my dream to help those MHP managers and operators with special tools or guideline so that they are able to explain complex technical matters of MHP in simple words and sentences common village people could understand. I am still working on it. Wish me luck.

How the School Kids Celebrate Independence Day

Met those kids in Lombok on the way to Bayan. If you go to Lombok Island, try to drive early in the morning from Senggigi to Tanjung. Along the coastline you can find many beautiful sceneries. Take motor bike or if you will bicycle. Do not forget to bring camera. If the sun allows, there are many beautiful sites to take photographs.

Few (or Many?) Unpatriotic People

Saturday is a perfect day to meet the neighbors and do small chat. This small chat has actually given me an insight from an “industry player”. The industry is power industry. As you might already know, PLN has the monopoly of the industry and according to what we face right know, they are in trouble. Indonesia is facing energy deficit period. The demand rises faster than PLN’s ability to generate power (but who knows the truth?).

This “deficit” issue has created some waves in the national level because the government decided to go for 10.000 MW coal fired power plants and then is planning for a nuclear power plant also. The discussion here is mainly concerning the first option (10.000 MW).

This neighbor of mine said that hydropower will not be the first priority of PLN if PLN still monopolize the business (despite huge hydro power potential in Indonesia – I mean huge). He is on the opinion of full market driven power industry (just like what is planned in the “dead” Law No.20/2002). Why? It is because hydropower needs only little operational cost. The water, you do not have to buy. There is no fuel transport etc. In short, hydropower is the cheapest to operate (except maybe compared to nuclear AFAIK). According to him, this condition is not good for the industry A.K.A. PLN because the company cannot “make” money out of the government’s subsidy.

Let’s see thermal power generation. I define thermal power plant as any generator that burn fossil fuel (coal, oil, gas etc.). Thermal generator needs huge amount of money to operate and maintain. The fuel is already costly and someone can “play” with his authority to get the best “deal”. Maintenance is also costly and for some cheaply constructed power plants, the frequency of maintenance might be higher than the high quality power plants. Thermal power plant has one big benefit. It is easily started, especially the gas fired power plants. This characteristic has made the gas fired power plants usually act as “peaker” or power plants that operate on peak hours only.

So, why the government wants to build 10.000 MW coal fired power plants? It is believed that Indonesia is coal rich country (high Sulfur ones). It is argued that high sulfur coal is not sellable to export market thus Indonesia should use it at home. From this point of view it is very clear that “only the bad ones are for our people”. The 10.000 MW project is huge and one can imagine how much coal is needed. This creates “project” for certain people in “certain” position. There are chance to make “money” from many vendors available in Indonesia.

But why Chinese products? Chinese can deliver the power plant fast. I once talk to an expert of BPPT, he mentioned that Chinese products (coal power plant) is always in custom mode. Although they have the same product number but the same part still have high probability to be not compatible to each other. It is not like buying a Japanese car. When the spark plug is broken, one can buy the same type and it is just plug and play. Chinese power plant is not like that. This condition creates a scenario of “high cost” maintenance, especially if one considers the quality of Chinese products. High quality European/Japanese power plant will need least maintenance and somebody cannot make “money” of it. Chinese products are also cheap. It is cheap in front but costly at the end.

So I suspect “money and greed” has driven this 10.000 MW policy. The decision maker is not realizing the financial burden afterwards. This will just make “corruption” and “power abuse” atmosphere thicker. The policy will not solve energy situation in Indonesia. It will just make the government position worse and the worst situation is bankruptcy. Few people has made the whole nations suffers and who get the benefits? The Chinese off course! Indonesia’s competitive position against China will be lower and lower and lower. Those people that pass this policy have no patriotic spirit at all.This country is already sick, but I still have hopes. How? Support renewable and keep on protesting on unfriendly and non pro-people policy. One more thing, support KPK in battling corruption.

Bad "Recruitment" Practice

Recent months are the time for registered parties to “recruit” candidates for legislative election 2009 (DPR/house of representatives). Why I use the word recruit? It is just very strange that candidates are not “native” members of the party or somebody that has “career” in the party. One of my neighbors has just been recruited by party #1. He will represent West Java. He is actually labor activist therefore he has vast networks of labor unions in West Java. Usually, labor activist would represent labor party (is there any Labor Party in Indonesia?) but in his case he is not.

Second person that I know is my sister in Law. Her husband is an activist in one of the big parties in Indonesia. He has career in that party and he has he political knowledge and skill. He represents his party in South Sumatera, where he was born. I believe this recruitment system. Somebody from inside the party that has skill, knowledge, and maybe consciousness should represent the party in the election. However, in the case of my sister in law, her recruitment is becoming very strange recruitment process. Due to his activist husband, one party (other than the party of her husband’s) offered her a candidacy spot for regency level election. She is an architect, so far does not have any experience with politics (except politics in the work), and I believe does not have the skill for political job. On the way to work, I saw a banner saying that this party is opening for registration for candidates of 2009 election. What a funny idea of recruitment, especially for such important position.

There are things that I can learn from those two different cases:

• Parties just want to recruit somebody that potentially can collect many votes despite his/her background and maybe his/her consciousness
• Parties do not do internal candidate development (maybe the established parties do it)
• Parties want it instant. As long as they won the voters’ heart, they do not care who is on the podium and do the oration
• Parties do not care with the background of the candidates (either he/she has the knowledge, the skill, objective and maybe some consciousness about good things for the people)
• Parties do not develop their supporters/voters from the grass root (or maybe they do not have the capacity to do that)
• Democracy in Indonesia is still in the premature stage (education is needed).

I am afraid that 2009 election result will just be the same as the results of past years. Corrupt parliament, incompetent people’s representatives, power hungry people’s representatives and bunch of people that only cares for his/her own business and do not have the vision and strategy for development and progress.

However, despite of all those things, I will vote. I will choose well. One vote does matters. One vote can change the whole thing. The crucial thing is that one has to know very well to whom his/her vote should go. Let’s welcome 2009 election with hopes and excitement.

Electricity "Beyond" Lighting

Early this week Directorate General of Electricity and Energy Utilization has just announced the tendering of the provision 26 Solar Home System project packages. Each package has a volume from 500 up to 1200 systems. Most of the packages have average volume of 600 SHS. Total there will be around 17.000 solar home systems or almost 1 MW capacity. The money involve is around 120 billion IDR (equal to around 13 million US$ à exchange rate IDR 9.200 for 1 US$). Huge amount of money, huge capacity, huge work, many villages will be so called “electrified”, maybe some “corruption” (cannot smell it though…), unclear benefit to the recipient, and no real “economic” benefit to the country.

Biggest chunk of the price goes to PV panels (50 Wp panels) and I believe the contractor will just get cheap Chinese panels. There is no local industry to manufacture solar cell and laminate it to be solar panels. Therefore, the biggest money just flies away from Indonesia. No “real” progress for the Indonesians just more consumptions for “small number” of people that financially benefits from the project.

Enough for the complaints, let’s move to another field. I believe that electricity should be used beyond lighting. Lighting is just creating a false development feeling. One might feel developed after having electricity and lights. Nevertheless, I believe that there should be a more tangible impact rather than just brighter nights. This means electrical energy should be able to boost the productivity. Productivity means people producing something. Producing is not servicing. Giving service is just a mechanism to redistribute income. Productive use of electricity is the key.

How can solar home system be used for productive use? I am not an expert in solar power system, but I can always see that solar systems always involve battery and battery usually performs less and less and less and less. Things can get worse if the user just by-pass the battery charge/discharge control (happens always in the villages – learn this guys!!). Battery’s DoD is passed easily if one bypass the controller. Battery is the weakness of the system. I still cannot think of one solar home system that can support productive use..(provide me an example please??).

I am not against solar power, but please not waste a lot of money to provide SHS to the villages. There is no real or more tangible impact of it. It is just lighting. In the statistic, it will certainly look good because electrification ratio rises fast. SHS is fast to implement and next year is election so…this 120 US$ million is just political. They use villagers to make them look good for next year’s election.

Let's be pro-poor in a more tangible way...

Jakarta - A Dream for a Just City

There is this theory that says "a good city is a place where people like to go outside". Every kind of people: young or old, healthy or handicaped, rich or poor like to go outside. A good city is a place that gives equal chance and space to its people. That means equality or justice. Lesson from Bogota had showed that social changes can be stimulated by designing proper city. Life quality is improving and the city is becoming comfortable to live in. The government of Bogota has involved the people very much in the planning process. It is therefore the program was fully supported by people and it is successful.

What about Jakarta? For Indonesian, Jakarta is known as "the city that is more cruel than step mom" (Indonesian usually considers step mom is worse than real mom). Jakarta is the city that "survival of the fittest" really applies. You can find somebody that spends millions of Rupiah in a second and you can also find somebody that has only 20.000 Rupiah to spend for the whole week. High rise building and glamorous houses you can find many. Slumps and crowded settlements you can also find easily. The fittest here means those that have money and power.

To my opinion, Jakarta does not equally distribute public space to the people. Jakarta is not the type of city that makes people want to go outside and interact with other people. There is limited free access open space in Jakarta. Any free space will shortly become a slump, even under a fly over road.!! Jakarta is a magnet to many people. People want to come to Jakarta and collect their share of fortune that's why many people come to Jakarta and create those slumps. Every effort that try to free up that kind of open space will face rejections and oppositions from the people. I believe this is because the planning is not involving people very much in depth especially poor people. Government of Jakarta is not pro poor. Gov tends to support those with big money. You have big money, you get the privileges. One can easily see this "below conciousness" policy of Jakarta's govt. For example the building of many toll roads in Jakarta. Only the haves can use that!! Public transport is very poor and traffic congestion is everywhere. Only the haves that cause that!! Pro poor government is needed.

I also see that Govt of Jakarta can only copy strategies (exit strategies) of other city without deeply understand the philosophy and background conditon. For example the plan to build underground MRT should consider geological condition of Jakarta. There is this report that said Jakarta has many undergound voids due to exessive ground water use. This creates problems with soil stability and underground (or U-Bahn) needs stable soil. Underground will be a risky transport option in Jakarta. The government has to understand the situation now. They have to map their streght and weaknesses and involve people more (not just "corrupt" parliament). Govt of Jakarta has to understant its self.

And finally, Jakarta is a different breed of city. It faces different problem although the symptoms are the same. The solutions have to be genuine and original and they cannot be local because Jakarta also involves Bogor, Tangerang, Bekasi and Depok. Developing new ideas for solution, government can involve the people.

Very final. I personally like Jakarta very much. The tempo is high and it makes me feel alive, but still I am dreaming for a better Jakarta. A city that is humanist and just..Let's hope and change it from ourselves (if you live in Jakarta...).

Energy Efficiency Policy -- Does it work?

Sometimes ago, president SBY has announced a new regulation that force government offices to reduce energy consumption to certain point. This has to do with energy efficiency campaign that is becoming a trend right now (as you might already know, PLN the public electricity company is facing generation deficit so that they have to do scheduled power down in Indonesia especially Java).

How does the government offices react to that regulation? My observation only conclude one thing: those offices react funnily. My office is in the Directorate for Electricity and Energy Utilization, to be exact side by side with Energy Conservation Sub Directorate. It is dark in the corridor. The lift is operated only for the even floors. Air con is on at 09.00 and off at 15.00. But split AC are everywhere. Windows are not properly shut or sealed. Building is covered with aluminum cover (looks nice). Main doors are kept open. Low efficiency fluorescent lamps are operated. Lift is still using incandescent lamps. TV's are on all the time. Computer still use CRT screen.

As far as I understand, energy efficiency should not reduce the comfort or quality of life. Making the corridor darker is reducing comfort. It is also not nice. Lift should be able to operate for odd and even floors. For the lift operation, basically I can cope with that. Makes you healtier. Air con can start operate at later hours e.g. 10.00 and shut down at later hours e.g. 16.00. Spilt air con should be managed so that not every room has split air con. Rule and regulation has to be enforced.

Windows should be propely shut or sealed. The windows in this office are using aluminum frame with rubber seal. In many cases I still can see that the rubber seal does not sealing at all. Thermal load can still get in from that leaks. Putting aluminum cover on the outer wall of the building in my opinion is just increasing thermal load. Aluminum is metal and metal absorb heat better. The heat is then transferred to the wall and makes the wall warmer. Warm wall means more thermal load to the AC system. Lamps also should be all changed. Low efficiency fluorescent lamps and incandescent should be changed to CFL or other better performing lamps.

Government offices use passive action to reduce energy consumption. They should have been do it differently. If one has to do make changes that assess what to be changed and calculate the saving possibilities. I do not believe they make economic analysis when they decided to put aluminum wall cover. Although DGEEU has many smart engineers but I do not think they use their talent and skill or their voices are not heard by their superiors. Who knows.

Anyway. Energy efficiency is becoming a need now. Start it from your self. If not it will not work.

The fate of remote MHP...

The government is not learning at all. There is no coordination in implementing projects. Different departments doing the same kind of thing without telling each other. Standard is not enforced. Bad planning is practiced. A sad story for people receiving the project result.

This is happen for micro hydro projects. Department of Energy is doing it; Department of Cooperative is doing it; Ministry of Underprivileged Area is also doing it. No one talk to each other. Department of Energy implement the projects in a relatively better way. Technically each site are examined so that the investment will not just be wasted. Department of cooperative also do it relatively better because of strong counterpart. The sad one is for Ministry of Underpriviledged Area (PDT - Pembangunan Daerah Tertinggal).

PDT use this standard: 950 million IDR for 20 kW micro hydro plant where ever it will be constructed. Addition of budget is possible for considerably remote area such as Papua (but the addition still not enough). PDT usually does projects in remote areas especially in the border area. Politically this is OK, but technically the plant is usually done poorly. The identification team usually did not do the job well. For example a 10 meter head with 60 liters of water per second must produce 11 kW of power (do not laugh..this is true in Long Berang). The planning team did not plan well (usually done by consultant) and the tender team does not know technical aspect at all. Contractor that knows better micro hydro and make some suggestions to make the scheme better will not win the contract. Contractor that has 10 years experience lose a contract because of some 20 pages profile fake companies (that usually sell the project to other companies - a.k.a project broker). This is sad, but the government does not do anything, at least maybe not yet.

In the field the result is also very poor. In Long Berang, the scheme was only in operation for 3 weeks and then it is broken. Millions of Rupiah just gone...and the people do not benefit from it.

I personally in the opinion that such projects should be done by proper department i.e. Department of energy. Although not 100% perfect but DoE can enforce certain standards and really know technical aspects of it (even the tender team or they call it tender committee knows technical aspect of micro hydro). If PDT or cooperative department want to support then provide supports on the soft component of micro hydro scheme such as community organizing, productive use development etc...

But, this might still be a dream. Let's hope that the government realize the mistake and take serious step on it. When it is about money...I still have to dream about this...but still I hope and pray.