Minahasa. The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry and state utility PLN have provided free electricity connections to 112 low-income households in Minahasa, North Sulawesi, under the national “Merdeka dari Kegelapan” (Freedom from Darkness) program.

Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, North Sulawesi Governor Yulius Selvanus, and PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo attended the handover ceremony in Winebetan Village, South Langowan District, on Wednesday.

One of the beneficiaries, 59-year-old Jolly Walangitan, said the new installation marked a major change for his family. He previously relied on a neighbor’s line, which only supported basic lighting.

“We only used a small lamp by connecting to a neighbor. Now we finally have our own free connection, so we can enjoy proper lighting without depending on others,” he said, adding thanks to President Prabowo Subianto, the ESDM Ministry, and PLN.

Bahlil said the program is a key step toward ensuring energy equity across Indonesia.

“I’ve instructed that by 2029–2030, every village and every urban neighborhood must have electricity,” he said. “We can’t allow our children, our nation’s future, to grow up without proper facilities for education, health, and economic opportunities.”

The BPBL program connected 155,429 households in 2024. As of September 2025, 135,482 households have received new electricity connections out of the 215,000 targeted for year-end.

Indonesia’s national electrification ratio reached 98.53 percent in the first half of 2025. About 1.47 percent of households remain without access, mostly in frontier, outermost, and underdeveloped (3T) areas. Bahlil emphasized that these regions must remain the government's top priority.

PLN chief Darmawan Prasodjo reiterated the company’s commitment to accelerating the BPBL rollout. “President Prabowo and Minister Bahlil have made it clear: no Indonesian should live in darkness,” he said. “Electricity is a basic right, and PLN will ensure every citizen has access.”

Darmawan added that BPBL helps bridge a gap where infrastructure is ready, but households cannot afford new installations. “PLN is all out to make BPBL successful. This is about fairness, development, and improving people’s lives,” he said.

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