28 October 2008

Mainstreaming and Integrating Climate Change to Development

I just heard it from one of the Directors of Bappenas (Development Planning Agency). Climate Change (CC) adaptation and mitigation will be mainstreamed and integrated to the development plan. I think that will be a hard work. CC adaptation and mitigation is not just a matter of new infrastructure development. CC requires a change of lifestyle and it is just a small change but a huge change. It might really change the way people live their lives. I think integration of CC into development planning is always positive, but it needs scientific background to move. One cannot just rely on International opinions. Indonesia should know better about its environment and its people better that anyone else. Any strategies implemented for CC adaptation and mitigation should be localized and this is including technology.

I am afraid that government in general only understands CC adaptation and mitigation as side projects of business as usual activities. It will not just be other infrastructure projects. CC should be the basic or the fundamental of development plan. All should be adjusted and targeted to CC adaptation and mitigation. My opinion, so far people’s awareness on CC is still low. Government should be able to interpret CC to day to day impacts so that people easily understand the consequences and move. Besides doing scientific research on the effects or impacts of CC, government should also do more CC impacts campaigns.It is great that we change our selves before trying to change other people. Government should change before trying to change other people. Let’s change. Change is good as long as it is good.

27 October 2008

Unique Characteristics of Rural Electrification in Teres Genit

Teres Genit is a village in Northern Lombok Island, in Bayan Sub-District. It is located approximately 90 kilometers from Mataram. The village has a 36 kW micro hydro power that just started operation 5 months ago. There are some unique characteristics of micro hydro implementation in this village, for example:
  • Cluster metering
  • Turbine flow control for a small capacity micro hydro
  • Significant productive use load.
Cluster metering is a unique solution for rural electrification. Common implementation in Indonesia is using miniature circuit breaker (MCB). MCB that is commonly used has limiting value of 0.5 Ampere. MCB with such small limiting value is very rare in Indonesia. Usually the sensitivity of very small MCB is quite bad. High demand of small value MCBs for rural electrification has made some people make fake “small value MCB”. Outside it is written as 0.5 Amp MCB but in reality current more than 0.5 Ampere cannot make the MCB to trip. When those fake MCBs are used, one can expect uncontrolled use of electricity that eventually jeopardizes the fate of micro hydro.

Cluster metering or cluster connection uses normal MCBs (i.e. 2 Amps MCB from well known manufacturer) to connect two or more customers. Usually my project recommends to connect 4 houses for one 2 Amps MCB. That means, if the load is even, each house has the right of 0.5 Amp load. Cluster metering uses kWh meter in addition to normal size MCB. In Teres Genit, one kWh meter is normally used for 4 houses. In Lombok, Teres Genit is the third site utilizing this kind of approach. So far, I found this kind of approach in Aceh.

Flow control is usually not implemented for micro scale hydro power. Teres Genit micro hydro might be the smallest that utilize flow control. Normal implementation of rural electrification with micro hydro usually utilizes Electronic Load Controller (ELC) or even the simpler Induction Generator Controller (IGC). I personally in the opinion that flow control in Teres Genit is a bit too much. Flow control system works by adjusting the opening of guide vane. When the demand is high, the control will tell the guide vane to open more and vice versa. ELC is enough for Teres Genit.

Productive Use, I define it as any activities that produce products. Small shops that use electricity do not fit to the definition. In Teres Genit, there are many options of productive use. The one that is ready is Lombok Salmon production. The industry uses cooling to keep the fish fresh after being smoked. My recent visit to Teres Genit is to install distribution line to this particular place. This effort needs the help of a small boy to climb the poles.

Anyone can visit Teres Genit. Just googling and write “Teras Genit” you will find how to get there.

17 October 2008

Border Conflict Cambodia-Thailand

Cambodia is somehow depending on Thailand. As far as I know, even vegetables are imported from Thailand. There are many Thailand products in the Cambodian super stores. Tourists coming to Cambodia are usually doing the South East Asia tour. That means they are not specifically coming to Cambodia. They do longer tour starting from, most probably, Thailand and afterwards they go to Cambodia. Local tourists from Thailand are also many. In the weekends, many are coming to Cambodia to visit ancient temples (not just the Angkor temples). In the Northern part of Cambodia, the Thailand influence is very big. The “small” incident in the Northern border area of Cambodia can really make a big wave to Cambodia’s economy. The recent opening of Trans Cambodia-Thailand might not able to mend the recent wounds. This road should be the economic gate for both countries. Thailand is somehow in a better position because its trading partners, I believe, are more than Cambodia’s.

There was also a plan to extend grid from Thailand to Cambodia. As far as I know, the project will be financed by the World Bank. Electricity is still a big problem in Cambodia. They are really relying on fossil fuel. Many village independent power producers are relying on diesel generators. There are only few that are using biomass despite big potential from rice husk. The grid is supposed to electrify Siem Reap province and support the tourism development in that area. As you might already know, Angkor temples are in Siem Reap province. Many are coming to Angkor areas. There are millions of them.

The border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand might turn Cambodian into more difficult situation, especially in the energy sector. People will have to rely on fossil fuel longer. Oil price might go down now, but end product price might go down a bit slower than the raw one. In the medium term, people of Northern Cambodia might have to draw more money from their pockets or else they will be in the dark.

In the conflict stays longer, Cambodia might opt for electricity import from Vietnam. Importing from Vietnam is already planned for the Southern part of Cambodia. Vietnam electricity is somehow “cleaner” because of many hydro power plants. But this option only viable if there is a national grid. So far, even Phnom Penh is still operating in an “island grid” mode. Grid extension and construction costs a lot of money.

I personally think that International Community, especially ASEAN, should do something about this conflict. ASEAN should not let “small” things like this jeopardizes a nation’s economy. I think this temple conflict is a small thing. UNESCO should also cancel the status of the area to reduce the conflict and later reenact the status after there is tangible solution for this border conflict. Thailand people and Cambodian are basically coming from the same descendent. They are practicing same religion also. Therefore, this conflict should be easily solved.

Let’s support the ASEAN Charter that states “UNITED by a common desire and collective will to live in a region of lasting peace, security and stability, sustained economic growth, shared prosperity and social progress, and to promote our vital interests, ideals and aspirations”.

6 October 2008

Eid Fitri and Urbanization

Happy Eid Fitri for all Moslems in the world. May Ramadan renewed our faith so that we can start or life with a clean sheet.

End of Ramadan is a big cultural event for Indonesians. Many people, not just Moslems, go back to their hometowns or villages (we call it “mudik”). They go to meet parents or see their parents’ graves and send prayers, meet relatives and old friends etc. It is time to ask for forgiveness from the old and bring happiness to the young. It is time to strengthen the bond with the relatives and friends.

This year I mudik by train. In the last two years, I drove my little wagon R like car to Salatiga and last year was a big mess because the cooling fan was broken and engine got overheated and the travel took almost 23 hours (normally it takes only 10-12 hours normal driving). This year I took the train. This train was already packed with people although it was still 5 days before Eid Fitri (D-5).

This year’s mudik is a bit quiet. This year there was no long traffic jam. Less people travel with personal cars or motor cycle. Train was not really fully booked. The “sapu jagat” cart was not operated (Sapu jagat is in operation if only there are too many people to transport). One can still change the airline schedule one day before the flight (this could not happen if the airline was really fully booked). Commercial busses were empty because there are not so many passengers. In short, many decided to stay home and did not mudik. Why is it? Is Mudik already lost its meanings? I do not think so.

First reason. Higher fuel price created price hike in transportation (not just that, but also other things get pricy). Personal cars or motor cycles are still cheaper option of transport. However the cost is still much more than last year’s. People decided to stay home because they cannot afford to pay for the transport and cost of celebrating Eid Fitri in hometown. Some decided to go far before Ied Fitri (during Ramadan or even before) to avoid higher transport cost. During Ied Fitri time (D-7 and D+7) there is a special additional transport cost allowed by the government (10% max but in reality it can reach 75%).

Second reason. There are many private companies, government and political parties’ sponsored mudik events. Companies rented hundred of buses to transport mass of people to many destinations, especially in Java. Political parties also did it with fewer busses. Government offices usually only conducted smaller mudik event for their staffs. Companies and government offices usually do this activity regularly each year. Political parties, I guess, will only do it this year due to next year’s election. This thousand of sponsored buses have created pressure to commercial buses’ operation. Commercial buses lost many of their passengers this year.

I guess, political parties will only do this kind of activity this year only because of next year’s election. Parties want to attract votes from potential voters by sponsoring mudik. Next year when the election is over, I am sure, there will be no mudik event sponsored by political parties. Commercial buses should not be worry of losing their passengers next year and the years in the future.

Fewer people doing mudik means there will be less urbanization. Urbanization is always an issue after Ied Fitri. People from villages, that had showed their “success” life in the city, bring along their relatives to the city for “better life”. Many end up in poverty and become criminals living the in city slumps. However, the reality is far from theory. News informed that economy class train is packed with passengers that are going to cities, especially Jakarta. People are even sitting on the top of the cart. Something that is very dangerous.

Government in big cities usually is prepared for such massive urbanization after Eid Fitri holiday. Government of Jakarta for example, always do ID check in the arrival gate of major train stations. The officers will try to persuade people to go back to their hometowns and not making Jakarta more crowded.

Many things can be learned from urbanization phenomenon. First, big cities look nice and pretty. Big cities seem to be able to provide everything especially fortune. I believe, this only works for the strong ones (energy and skill). Second, big cities still monopolize the money circulation. Jakarta for example might control maybe 75% of money in Indonesia. It is not wrong that people try to come to Jakarta and seek for a piece of their fortune shares. Third, rural areas are not interesting anymore to stay. Agriculture, that is important pillar of a country’s economy, is not able to give good life for people. This has proved that there are development gaps between urban and rural. Government does not do enough work to support Agriculture sector, especially food producing agriculture. Government still have to do more on this. Indonesia should be self sufficient when talking about food. I remembered in 1980s, Suharto president of Indonesia at that time, gave speech in front of many people in FAO and tell them about the success story of Indonesia. In the 80s, Indonesia was self sufficient for food especially rice.

Being independent in the food sector is important. Becoming a farmer is not a choice anymore for young people in the rural areas. Urbanization is the proof. I am afraid government will let corporations to handle food sector in Indonesia. Farmers are always the lost parties in food business. If corporations monopolize food sector, then actually there is not food independence. There might be no transparency in the cost calculation so that food price becoming very high. If the government is smart enough (maybe Suharto is not bad at all in this case), farmers can be happy and Indonesia can be self-sufficient and food independent.

One more thing, climate change might also have some influence in the agriculture sector. Where are the scientist in IPB? Hello. Wake up guys! Give tangible inputs to the government and do not let corporations eat up Indonesia’s agriculture sector.