Bringing electricity to remote communities in Papua is about more than installing power lines. It is about giving children better conditions to study after sunset, helping health workers preserve essential medical supplies and allowing small businesses to extend their activities beyond daylight hours. Against this backdrop, Indonesia’s state-owned electricity company, PT PLN (Persero), has reported a major achievement: 128 villages across four provinces in the Papua region had been connected to electricity by October 2026.
The achievement forms part of the government’s broader effort to expand access to basic infrastructure in eastern Indonesia, where difficult terrain, long distances and limited transport networks have historically complicated development projects. Through its Village Electrification Programme, known as Program Listrik Desa (Lisdes), PLN has built new electricity distribution infrastructure to reach communities that previously lacked access to its network.
The work is not finished. PLN has prepared a follow-up programme targeting another 199 villages across all six provinces of the Papua region, with implementation scheduled to proceed gradually through 2027. The next phase is expected to extend electricity access to communities in Papua, Papua Barat (West Papua), Papua Barat Daya (Southwest Papua), Papua Selatan (South Papua), Papua Tengah (Central Papua) and Papua Pegunungan (Highland Papua).
For a region where access to infrastructure remains uneven, the programme represents an important effort to translate Indonesia’s commitment to equitable development into practical improvements in people’s daily lives.
128 villages connected across four provinces
PLN’s October 2026 announcement confirmed that the 128 villages had received electricity through the Lisdes programme. The newly electrified villages are located in four provinces: Papua, Papua Barat, Papua Selatan dan Papua Barat Daya.
The scale of the infrastructure required to connect these communities illustrates the complexity of delivering electricity across Papua’s diverse landscape.
According to Roberth Rumsaur, General Manager of PLN’s Papua and Papua Barat Main Regional Unit (UIW), the company has constructed 742.58 circuit kilometres of medium-voltage distribution networks and 286.71 circuit kilometres of low-voltage networks to support the programme.
PLN had also installed distribution substations with a combined capacity of 7,450 kilovolt-amperes (kVA). These facilities are essential for distributing electricity safely and efficiently to households and other users connected to the network.
Roberth said the achievement reflected PLN’s commitment to extending electricity services to remote communities despite significant geographical and infrastructure constraints.
“To electrify the 128 villages spread across Papua, Papua Barat, Papua Barat Daya and Papua Selatan, PLN has built medium-voltage networks covering 742.58 circuit kilometres and low-voltage networks spanning 286.71 circuit kilometres,” he said, as reported by ANTARA on October 31, 2026.
The figures demonstrate that rural electrification requires more than connecting individual houses to an existing grid. It involves constructing distribution networks, installing substations and ensuring that the infrastructure can support electricity demand in settlements that may be far from established power systems.
From the first-half milestone to the October achievement
The 128-village milestone had already been reported earlier in 2026. In August, ANTARA reported that PLN’s Papua and Papua Barat regional unit had recorded electricity access in 128 villages during the first half of the year.
At that stage, the company described the achievement as part of its ongoing effort to expand services to communities that had not previously been reached by the electricity network.
Roberth said the programme remained focused on villages and remote settlements across the region. He also explained that the electricity system operated by PLN had an available generating capacity of 334,720 kilowatts (kW), against a peak demand of 246,524 kW, leaving a reserve margin of 88,196 kW at the time of the report.
The reserve capacity was considered an important factor in maintaining system reliability and supporting electricity demand.
PLN also reported performance indicators for service interruptions. Its System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI), which measures the average duration of interruptions experienced by customers, stood at 120.79 minutes per customer, below the target of 146.72 minutes. The System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI), which measures the average frequency of interruptions, was recorded at 1.22 interruptions per customer, compared with a target of 2.12.
These indicators provide additional context to the electrification effort. Expanding access is important, but the quality and reliability of the electricity supplied are equally significant for households, schools, health facilities and businesses.
By October, PLN had reaffirmed the 128-village achievement while outlining the next phase of expansion. The development shows how the programme is moving from initial infrastructure delivery to a broader effort to improve access across all six provinces.
The next target: 199 villages by 2027
PLN is preparing to extend its rural electrification programme to 199 additional villages distributed across six provinces.
The target includes Papua, Papua Barat, Papua Barat Daya, Papua Selatan, Papua Selatan and Papua Pegunungan. Unlike the 128 villages already connected across four provinces, the next programme will include the two additional provinces of Central Papua and Papua Pegunungan.
Roberth said implementation would be carried out gradually through 2027, taking into account geographical conditions and the infrastructure requirements of each location.
“PLN has also prepared a follow-up electrification programme for 199 villages spread across six provinces in Papua. The programme is targeted for completion in stages by 2027, while taking into consideration geographical conditions and the electricity infrastructure requirements in each area,” he said.
The timetable reflects the reality that not every village can be connected using the same construction approach. Some settlements can be reached through conventional distribution networks, while others require more complex logistical arrangements and alternative energy solutions.
The programme will therefore depend on careful planning, accurate information about communities that remain without electricity and coordination between PLN and local administrations.
The challenge is particularly relevant in mountainous and remote areas, where transporting construction materials and equipment can require considerable time and resources.
Geography remains a major challenge
Papua’s landscape is one of the most important factors shaping infrastructure development. Mountain ranges, forests, rivers and widely dispersed settlements can make construction more complicated than in densely populated urban areas.
In some locations, access by road is limited or unavailable. This can increase transportation expenses and make it difficult to move poles, cables, transformers and other electrical equipment to construction sites.
Roberth acknowledged that natural conditions and infrastructure limitations had not reduced PLN’s determination to expand electricity services. He said cooperation with local governments and other stakeholders remained important to overcoming these obstacles.
Photographs accompanying the reporting show PLN workers cooperating to transport electricity infrastructure materials across difficult terrain. Such work illustrates the physical demands involved in bringing electricity to settlements beyond established transport corridors.
However, the challenge does not end when construction is completed. Maintaining the networks, ensuring sufficient generating capacity, and responding to technical disruptions are all essential for providing a dependable service.
The next phase will therefore require attention not only to the number of villages connected but also to the sustainability and reliability of the systems serving them.
Parliament calls for better coordination and renewable energy
The expansion programme has received support from Cheroline Chrisye Makalew, a member of Commission XII of Indonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR RI), which oversees energy and related sectors.
Cheroline described access to electricity as a fundamental public need, particularly for communities in remote areas that have faced infrastructure limitations.
She said electricity could provide benefits far beyond household lighting, creating opportunities to improve education, health services and economic activities.
“Equal access to electricity does provide lighting for residents’ homes and opens opportunities to improve education, health services and economic activities in remote areas,” she said.
Cheroline also called for stronger coordination between PLN and regional governments to ensure that electrification planning accurately reflects conditions on the ground.
Local administrations, she argued, have direct knowledge of villages and smaller settlements that remain without electricity. Their information can help PLN identify priority locations, avoid inaccurate planning and ensure that investment reaches communities with the greatest need.
“Regional governments have a direct understanding of the conditions in their areas, including villages and hamlets that have not yet received electricity. Data alignment between PLN and local governments needs to be strengthened so that planning and target selection genuinely reflect conditions in the field,” she said.
Her comments highlight an important aspect of infrastructure delivery: reliable data is essential. A village may be recorded as having access to electricity while smaller settlements or outlying hamlets within its administrative boundaries remain underserved. Better coordination can help identify these gaps and make future investment more effective.
Cheroline also encouraged PLN to expand the use of renewable energy, particularly solar power plants and small-scale hydropower systems.
These technologies could provide practical alternatives for settlements where extending conventional electricity networks is technically difficult or economically challenging.
Solar power systems may be suitable for isolated communities with sufficient sunlight, while micro-hydropower could be considered in locations with appropriate water resources and geographical conditions.
The choice of technology, however, needs to reflect local environmental conditions, maintenance capacity and the long-term cost of operating each system.
Electricity as a foundation for education and healthcare
For remote communities, access to reliable electricity can influence the quality of essential public services.
In education, lighting allows students to study after dark and provides schools with greater flexibility in organising activities. Electricity can also support the use of computers, digital learning materials and internet equipment, provided that connectivity infrastructure is available.
In healthcare, dependable power is important for lighting treatment rooms, operating medical equipment and preserving temperature-sensitive medicines and vaccines. Health facilities in isolated areas may benefit particularly from reliable electricity because alternative power sources can be expensive or difficult to maintain.
Electricity can also support economic activity. Small shops, food producers, workshops and other local enterprises may be able to use refrigeration, processing equipment and communications technology. These improvements can help businesses operate more efficiently and create additional opportunities for household income.
Nevertheless, the arrival of electricity does not automatically guarantee better educational outcomes, improved healthcare or higher incomes. Those benefits depend on complementary investment, including qualified teachers and health workers, adequate equipment, affordable electricity and access to markets.
The value of the Lisdes programme will therefore be greatest when electricity infrastructure is integrated with broader development planning at the village level.
Measuring progress across all six provinces
The 128 villages connected by October represent an important milestone, but the wider scale of the electrification challenge remains considerable.
In a separate report published on October 30, ANTARA cited PLN data recording 3,385 electrified villages across the six provinces of Papua. The figures were distributed as follows: 817 villages in Papua, 718 in Papua Barat Daya, 578 in Papua Barat, 556 in Papua Pegunungan, 392 in Papua Selatan and 324 in Papua Tengah.
The same report identified 411 locations as targets for the broader village electrification programme. These locations were distributed across Papua, Papua Barat, Papua Barat Daya, Papua Selatan, Papua Tengah and Papua Pegunungan.
The 411 locations should be understood as a broader planning list, not as an additional number of villages already connected or as a replacement for the specific 199-village target announced for the next programme phase. PLN said the number of potential customers at those locations could only be determined after surveys had been conducted.
This distinction is important when assessing progress. Electrification statistics need to distinguish between villages already served, locations identified for future development and projects that are still under survey or construction.
Transparent reporting will help the public and policymakers understand how quickly access is expanding and where the remaining gaps are most significant.
Energy equality and the path forward
The expansion of electricity access in Papua reflects a broader development objective: ensuring that geographical distance does not permanently determine whether communities can benefit from essential infrastructure.
The achievement of connecting 128 villages demonstrates progress by PLN and its partners. The construction of hundreds of kilometres of distribution networks and the installation of substations provide a substantial physical foundation for extending services to remote communities.
Yet the next 199 villages will test the programme’s ability to maintain momentum under difficult conditions. Accurate village-level data, cooperation with regional governments, appropriate technology and long-term maintenance will all influence whether the 2027 target can be achieved.
Renewable energy may also become increasingly important in locations where conventional grid expansion is impractical. Solar and micro-hydropower systems could complement the existing network and provide options suited to Papua’s varied geography.
Ultimately, the success of rural electrification should be measured not simply by the number of villages listed as connected but by whether residents receive electricity that is reliable, affordable and useful in their daily lives.
PLN’s achievement offers a positive foundation for that ambition. If the next phase is delivered with careful planning and sustained cooperation, the programme can help expand economic opportunities, strengthen public services and bring the benefits of Indonesia’s development agenda to more communities across Papua.
Conclusion
The electrification of 128 villages marks significant progress in expanding energy access across Papua, while the target of reaching 199 additional villages by 2027 demonstrates Indonesia’s continued commitment to energy equality and regional development. However, achieving this goal will require overcoming geographical challenges, strengthening coordination between PLN and regional governments, and ensuring reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity supplies. By combining electricity network expansion with renewable energy solutions, Indonesia can improve access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities while ensuring that remote communities benefit more equally from national development.
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