Pertamina New Renewable Energy Brings Clean Water and Solar Power to Remote North Sumatra School through Sekolah Energi Berdikari Initiative
Jakarta, CNN Indonesia — In a significant milestone for educational equity and rural development in Indonesia, Pertamina New & Renewable Energy (Pertamina NRE) has officially handed over an integrated renewable energy, clean water, and sanitation infrastructure package to State Elementary School SDN 091686 Gunung Bayu, located in the Bosar Maligas sub-district of Simalungun Regency, North Sumatra. The handover ceremony, which took place on Thursday, September 24, marks another successful rollout of Pertamina NRE’s flagship corporate social responsibility initiative known as the Sekolah Energi Berdikari (SEB) program.
The comprehensive intervention addresses multiple chronic infrastructural deficits that have severely hampered the daily operations of the rural educational institution for well over a decade. By coupling clean energy technology with essential public health amenities, the project aims to transform the learning environment for dozens of students and faculty members while simultaneously promoting the practical application of sustainable energy principles at the grassroots level.
Comprehensive Infrastructure Package Alleviates Longstanding Deprivation
The assistance package deployed by Pertamina NRE is tailored to resolve critical infrastructure shortages at the remote North Sumatra school. Central to the project is the installation of a 2.8 kilowatt-peak (kWp) Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system equipped with a 5 kilowatt-hour (kWh) energy storage battery. This off-grid solar installation serves a dual purpose: it powers the school’s newly established electric water pumping system and fulfills the foundational electrical needs of the classrooms and administrative offices.
Prior to this intervention, the school community endured severe operational hardships. According to institutional records and official statements, SDN 091686 Gunung Bayu had operated without access to a reliable electricity grid, and more critically, had been entirely devoid of an on-site clean water source for nearly 15 years. Teachers and students previously had to rely on cumbersome external arrangements or endure severe resource scarcity throughout the academic day. Furthermore, the school’s sanitation facilities had fallen into a state of severe disrepair, rendering the toilets unusable and posing significant health and hygiene concerns.
In response, the SEB program not only installed the solar power system and drilled a deep groundwater well, but also executed a complete renovation of the school’s dilapidated restroom facilities. The official handover of these vital assets was marked by a ceremonial transfer from Pertamina NRE Senior Officer Arief Mulizar to SDN 091686 Gunung Bayu Principal Jelita Tampubolon.
Quantifiable Benefits and Immediate Social Impact
The implementation of the Sekolah Energi Berdikari program at SDN 091686 Gunung Bayu yields immediate and measurable benefits for the local educational ecosystem. The initiative directly impacts a population of 85 students and 15 teachers, fundamentally altering their day-to-day scholastic experience.
From an economic perspective, the integration of the solar photovoltaic system is projected to generate substantial cost savings for the school. Financial estimates provided by Pertamina NRE indicate that the self-generated solar electricity will yield an estimated operational efficiency of approximately Rp5.182 million per year in reduced electricity expenditures. For a rural school operating under tight budgetary constraints, these saved funds can be redirected toward academic supplies, extracurricular programming, or facility maintenance.
Beyond financial efficiencies, the environmental dividends are equally noteworthy. The 2.8 kWp solar installation is projected to achieve a carbon emission reduction equivalent to 3,192 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per year. This aligns the grassroots initiative with broader national and corporate targets for greenhouse gas mitigation and environmental stewardship.
Principal Jelita Tampubolon expressed profound gratitude for the intervention, emphasizing that the corporate assistance directly resolves the most basic operational hurdles her institution has faced for a generation.
"With the presence of the solar power plant and the drilled well provided by Pertamina, we can now finally utilize electricity and secure a stable source of clean water for the entire school community," Jelita stated in a written release published on Saturday, September 26. "The restrooms, which were previously damaged and entirely unfit for use, have now been successfully rehabilitated and can be fully functional once more. This brings a tangible, life-changing transformation to our daily teaching and learning activities."
Strategic Vision Behind the Sekolah Energi Berdikari Program
Elaborating on the strategic objectives of the initiative, Manager of Corporate Communication & Stakeholder Relation at Pertamina NRE, Susanto August Satria, underscored that the Sekolah Energi Berdikari program represents a core pillar of the company’s corporate mission. The initiative is explicitly designed to expand the accessibility of new and renewable energy (NRE) while directly responding to the socio-economic and infrastructural needs of communities situated near Pertamina’s operational footprints across the archipelago.
"Pertamina NRE is fully committed to continuously delivering the benefits of new and renewable energy in a manner that can be directly experienced by the community," Satria explained. "Through the Sekolah Energi Berdikari program, we do not merely supply clean energy infrastructure. We also ensure that the beneficiary communities are equipped with the knowledge and technical understanding required to utilize and safeguard these assets in a sustainable manner."
Satria’s remarks highlight a critical component of modern developmental assistance: project sustainability. Infrastructure projects in remote regions frequently fail over time due to a lack of local technical capacity for maintenance and repair. To counter this vulnerability, the project implementation model incorporated a comprehensive educational component.
Alongside the physical installation of the hardware, Pertamina NRE deployed technical personnel to conduct targeted training workshops for the school’s staff and local community members. The educational curriculum focused on the operational mechanics and routine maintenance protocols of the solar PV off-grid system. By familiarizing the school residents with the nuances of system monitoring, basic troubleshooting, and preventive upkeep, Pertamina NRE aims to guarantee the longevity of the installation, ensuring that the socio-economic dividends endure for years to come.
Local Governance and Community Appreciation
The successful deployment of the integrated energy and sanitation project has drawn widespread praise from local government officials and community leaders who view the initiative as a model for public-private collaboration in rural development.
Ismail Hutasulut, the village head (Kepala Desa) of Gunung Bayu, offered formal appreciation on behalf of the local constituency. He highlighted the profound attention Pertamina NRE has shown toward a marginalized educational institution and voiced optimism that the partnership could serve as a catalyst for wider regional development.
"We extend our deepest gratitude to Pertamina NRE for the care, attention, and tangible assistance that has been bestowed upon our local school," Hutasulut remarked. "We sincerely hope that this positive relationship and strong institutional silaturahmi [bond] will continue to thrive, so that in the future, other schools in our region that remain in dire need of support may also receive similar attention."
The village head’s comments reflect a broader regional desire for equitable infrastructure distribution, particularly in sub-districts like Bosar Maligas, where economic limitations often restrict local governments from rapidly resolving systemic public service deficits.
Broader Implications for Indonesia’s Energy Transition and Education Sector
The integration of solar energy with essential water and sanitation infrastructure at SDN 091686 Gunung Bayu encapsulates a multifaceted approach to rural empowerment. By addressing the water crisis alongside the energy deficit, the project recognizes that modern education cannot thrive on electricity alone; basic human dignity, health, and sanitation are foundational prerequisites for effective pedagogy.
Furthermore, the initiative aligns with Indonesia’s national commitment to accelerating its energy transition and achieving net-zero emission targets. By introducing school-aged children and rural educators to renewable energy technologies in their immediate surroundings, programs like Sekolah Energi Berdikari help foster a cultural shift toward environmental consciousness from an early age. Students who grow up interacting with solar panels and understanding their operational mechanics are far more likely to become future advocates for sustainable energy policies.
As Pertamina NRE continues to scale its corporate social responsibility initiatives across Indonesia, projects in remote areas like Simalungun Regency serve as a testament to the practical viability of decentralized renewable energy solutions. By transforming vulnerable institutions into self-reliant hubs of clean energy and improved sanitation, these interventions demonstrate how targeted corporate stewardship can successfully bridge the gap between national sustainability goals and local community empowerment.
