• The UK-Indonesia MENTARI (Menuju Transisi Energi Rendah Karbon Indonesia) in partnership with Mata Redi and Mata Woga communities and local government of Central Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, installs a solar and battery mini-grid to provide the communities with access to clean, reliable and affordable energy.
• On 26 August 2022, British Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste Owen Jenkins, Bapak Muhammad Wafid A.N., Expert Staff for Environmental and Spatial Planning for the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, will be joined by Bapak Adrianus Umbu Rauta, Head of Mata Redi Village, and Bapak Benediktus Boli Purnama, Head of Mata Woga Village to attend the inauguration of this project. Governor of NTT Province  Bapak Viktor Bungtilu Laiskodat, and Bapak Paulus S. K. Limu, Central Sumba Regent are also scheduled to attend, along with representatives from Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration and BAPPENAS.
• 220 households, 50 micro and small businesses, and 12 public facilities will now have access to clean, reliable, and affordable power.
• This will help develop a more productive and inclusive local economy by powering local businesses and enhancing agricultural output. Access to clean energy will also bring other benefits, including businesses and health care facilities will operate longer hours and provide cold storage for medicine and children will be able to better study at night.
• The solar and battery mini-grid will be managed and operated by the community owned BumDes Hali Dewa to ensure the project’s long term sustainability.

The UK-Indonesia MENTARI (Menuju Transisi Energi Rendah Karbon Indonesia) in partnership with Mata Redi and Mata Woga communities and local government of Central Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara installs a solar and battery mini-grid to provide the communities with access to clean, reliable and affordable energy to the two villages and help develop a more productive and inclusive local economy by powering local businesses and enhancing agricultural output.

Access to clean energy will also bring other benefits, including businesses and health care facilities will operate longer hours and provide cold storage for medicine; children will be able to better study at night; and street lights will improve night time mobility and safety.

Equally important as provision of clean, reliable and affordable energy is empowering the community to use power productively for inclusive economic development and to realise other inclusive social benefits. The community, in partnership with MENTARI and local NGOs such as Humba Hammu, a local women-led consortium of eight local organisations, and Don Bosco Vocational Training Centre have delivered training and workshops for the community, particularly young people. Training includes developing carpentry and electrical engineering skills. The community has also established BUMDes Hali Dewa to operate and manage the system, as well as working with the community to improve inclusivity and gender equality through Gender Action Learning System (GALS) training for men and women, improving potential for more inclusive economic development and social benefits for the whole community.

As part of the programme, all guests are invited to visit the solar panel and battery installations, housing and public facilities, as well as an exhibition of the potential community’s productive use of energy such as improvement made to lemongrass and ginger cultivation. The quality of harvest from lemongrass, gingers and other agriculture products will increase yield and value, directly benefitting the community. As expression of welcome and hope, the local community performed a traditional dance from Sumba and a traditional ceremony was led by community and religious leaders.

The UK-Indonesia MENTARI Partnership, in addition to this mini-grid project and the immediate benefit for the community it brings, partners with the government to develop off-grid and mini-grid business models so projects like this can be replicated in other areas of Sumba and more widely across Indonesia, including potential to deliver whole island transition where off-grid and mini-grid technology is most suitable; MENTARI is working with PLN on its ambitious programme to replace all diesel power stations in Indonesia, equivalent to over 2GW of power.

MENTARI also advices on policy and regulatory reform that will attract international and private sector investment, and domestic finance needed to accelerate energy transition to meet the government’s objectives. MENTARI also works directly with financers and project developers to broker successful renewable energy projects under a £2billion project pipeline, this helps inform advice on regulatory barriers to project development.

The IEA states the power sector accounts for 40% of global CO2 emissions and a just transition to renewable energy, that leaves no communities behind, can not only help cut emissions but also grow economies faster and improve health from better air quality, generating billions that can be reinvested in e.g. health and education services.

Government to government co-operation to realise these benefits and meet our mutual Paris Agreement commitments to limit temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels is essential if we are to meet those goals and protect current and future generations’ quality of life and prosperity.  The UK and Indonesian governments are proud to have established the MENTARI partnership to help achieve that and the communities of Mata Redi and Mata Woga can be proud to be a part of the global shift to clean energy and all the benefits that brings.

British Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste Owen Jenkins said: “I am very pleased to attend this important inauguration and I am very hopeful that this mini-grid installation can help improve the livelihood of the communities in Mata Redi and Mata Woga, not only in terms of energy access but also inclusive economic growth and more opportunities for the village and its people to thrive.

The UK is proud to take part in Indonesia’s renewable energy transition journey through the MENTARI programme. I am excited to see the progress on the ground demonstrating a GREAT partnership between Indonesia and the UK, working together to realise Indonesia’s energy transition objectives.

The UK remains committed to continue its support to Indonesia to realise a just transition in the spirit of the objectives of its Presidency G20 ETWG (Energy Transition Working Group). I hope this project can be replicated in other parts of Indonesia and beyond as we recover together and stronger”

Drs. Paulus S. K. Limu, Central Sumba Regent said: “MENTARI Programme in Mata Redi and Mata Woga Villages has brought with it an interesting and comprehensive approach. It doesn’t only provide electricity from a renewable source but also provide opportunities for productive socio-economic growth. The establishment of social organisations such as Village Owned Enterprise as well as Small and Medium Enterprises will play a crucial role in these communities economic growth. This integrated model between renewable energy and its usage is what could be replicated by government or other parties. Central Sumba Government will replicate this concept in its renewable energy access development in other villages, taking into account local potentials. Central Sumba will slowly but surely reduce poverty.” 

Viktor Bungtilu Laiskodat, East Nusa Tenggara Governor said: “Sumba Island especially Central Sumba Regency will become a centre of renewable energy development, as planned by East Nusa Tenggara Government.  This priority supports the central government’s plan that sets Sumba as a renewable energy iconic island. MENTARI Programme in Mata Redi and Mata Woga which aims to drive inclusive economic growth, building institutional capacity such as Village Owned Enterprises to ensure sustainability, is in line with our development concept and priorities in NTT. Ensuring synergy between agencies/ institutions is the government’s task going forward to ensure both programme sustainability, and help our community move away from poverty.”

Muhammad Wafid A.N., Special Adviser to the Minister of EMR for Environment and Spatial Planning said: “Indonesia is keen to transition to renewable energy and realise the renewable energy target of 100% by 2060 or sooner. MEMR is keen to work with partners like the UK who are very committed to renewable energy development. In line with Indonesia Energy Transition Working Group (ETWG) G20, this hybrid PV and battery mini-grid built by MENTARI is supporting Indonesia to realise our energy transition and to achieve the ETWG priorities of energy access as well as smart and clean technology. Providing access to the community in remote areas also aligns with G20 ETWG spirit that none should be left behind. I hope we can share this success in the upcoming G20 ETWG in Bali next week.”

Bapak Adrianus Umbu Rauta, Head of Mata Redi Village said: “To be honest, I still can’t believe that Mata Redi and Mata Woga villages now have mini-grid solar and battery systems built by the MENTARI Programme. I am so happy that our long wait has now come to a beautiful end. Our villages can soon be bright. Besides, we are also thankful that young people and community members have received a lot of training sessions: such as electricity training for grids’ operators, furniture, gender and social inclusion trainings, as well as internet; also the establishment of Village Owned Enterprise and trainings for its members. People were also provided with skills to plant lemongrass and white ginger – using the energy productively to increase household incomes. We do not only receive electricity but have also being supported to grow our community’s economy. In village level government, we will make sure that this asset can be sustainable and used by our future generations. Once again, thanks very much MENTARI Programme and all parties that have supported us.”

Ibu Yanti Sada Mura, Female Figure from Mata Redi Village said: “I am very happy with MENTARI Programme that it has provided mini-grid solar and battery system for Mata Redi and Mata Woga villages. Our villages can finally become bright. This has been our dream for a long time and now it comes true because of MENTARI Programme. On behalf of female community members and the whole villagers of Mata Redi and Mata Woga, I would like to thank MENTARI Programme. With the electricity provided, we will be able to have economic activities that will increase our household incomes, our children can study well, and peoples’ health will be improved. We now also have plans for economic activities as well as better financial planning. The community has been granted opportunities to take part in trainings and other activities which led us female community members to be more confident. We now understand what confidence in our gender is, and that female members of the community can also take an active role in village development.”

Notes to Editors 

• Media are invited to cover the launch event on Fri, 26 Aug at 0800hrs (local time). British Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste Owen Jenkins and Bapak Muhammad Wafid A.N., Expert Staff for Environmental and Spatial Planning for the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources as well as Head of Central Sumba Regent Drs. Paulus S. K. Limu will attend the inauguration.
• MENTARI Programme, led by the British Embassy Jakarta and its partners with supports from Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia, aims to deliver inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction in Indonesia, by supporting the uptake of low carbon energy.  The programme has a specific focus on developing the low carbon energy sector to best support disadvantaged communities, and specifically those in eastern Indonesia.
• MENTARI is a four-year programme, running from 2020-2023. MENTARI delivery partners are Palladium International, Castlerock Consulting, Yayasan Humanis dan Inovasi Sosial (Hivos), and ECA.
• For more information on MENTARI programme, please visit www.mentari.info

For further information, please contact:

British Embassy Jakarta Media and Communications Team

Head: John Nickell 08121091372 or

Deputy Head Faye Belnis 08118777 762

Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia Media and Communication Team

Head of Bureau of Communication, Information Services and Cooperation: Agung Pribadi 08112213555

MENTARI Team Leader – Julio Retana 082110049187