Monday, April 28, 2008
Minister Calls on People to Reduce Power Consumption
Source: Antara News

Jakarta - Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro called on the electricity consumers to stop wasteful use of power in order to help curb the increasing electricity consumption at home.

"If we all save electricity it will help around 100 million other Indonesians who have not yet enjoyed electricity supply," the minister said when addressing a national electricity saving movement here on Sunday.

The launch of the movement was announced by Vice President Jusuf Kalla's wife, Mufidah Kalla, here on Sunday. It was attended by about 500 housewives and 400 school children.

Jusgiantoro said that the people should make themselves accustomed to efficient use of power because electricity supply was running short and its price has been increasing.

He said efficient behavior should be introduced to society, particularly to children.

"It is we ourselves who have to start it. We should turn off all the lights and room air-conditioners when we want to leave home for work," the minister said.

In the meantime, President Director of state-owned electricity company PLN, Fahmi Mochtar, in his address said that PLN had its own challenges when it was trying to meet the people's need for power within their financial reach.

After all, the energy price in the world market continued to increase so that PLN's production cost also increased, he said.

Therefore, PLN is launching an efficiency drive in all chains of its production sectors such in the power generation, transmission and distribution sectors, according to Fahmi.

He said that it would contribute a lot if all components of the people would not consume power excessively.

PLN is also launching a program of 51 million units of light heat energy (LHE) which would be distributed to the people, he said.

He said the program was expected to be enjoyed by PLN's consumers in Java and Bali next June.