PLN Supports the Progress of Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture

PLN Supports the Progress of Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture

The implementation of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in a country would not succeed without the cross-sectoral support provided. This is because the principles of sustainability must be comprehensively applied, and their implementation inevitably intersects with sectors beyond marine and fisheries, overseen by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP). One form of cross-stakeholder support is the assistance given by the State Electricity Company (PT. PLN (Persero)) to cultivation actors in Central Sulawesi Province.

The Central Sulawesi Provincial Government (Pemprov Sulteng) receives support from one of the State-Owned Enterprises responsible for electricity distribution, namely PT. PLN (Persero), through the Electrifying Agriculture (EA) program. This EA program is carried out in line with the central government’s decree, targeting shrimp production in Central Sulawesi to reach 5,000 tons per year. Governor of Central Sulawesi, Rusdy Mastura, also revealed that the provincial government is currently fostering various collaborations to promote the expansion of the existing fisheries land utilization in Central Sulawesi.

Central Sulawesi Province is recorded to possess potential fisheries land covering an area of 42,095 hectares, yet the realized utilization rate is only 25%. Of course, the provincial government will continue to accelerate the realization of fisheries land utilization by establishing policies for the marine and fisheries sector in Central Sulawesi that remain aligned with the implementation of the blue economy, emphasizing sustainable fisheries and aquaculture or the optimal utilization of marine resources while maintaining conservation efforts for ecological balance.

Rusdy’s strategy to optimize and strengthen the industrialization of aquaculture and boost capture fisheries production in line with the blue economy direction involves prioritizing collaboration. “In 2023 and beyond, Central Sulawesi will continue to collaborate in enhancing the well-being of fishermen, including cultivators, processors, and marketers of fisheries products, contributing to employment absorption,” he concluded.

EA Assists Businesses in Harnessing Technology in Maritime and Fisheries Activities

The sustainable development of fisheries and fish cultivation in Central Sulawesi receives a boost from the State Electricity Company’s (PLN) Energy Application (EA) program. Through the provision of modern electricity and technological solutions for the agricultural sector, the EA program helps enhance productivity and reduce operational costs for farmers, livestock breeders, and fishermen.

For the rapidly growing shrimp cultivation industry in Central Sulawesi, the PLN’s EA program opens new opportunities to leverage electricity-based technology for improving harvest yields while cutting costs. Data shows that in 2022 alone, 134 PLN customers in this province benefited from the EA program. Furthermore, PLN plans to add a capacity of 50 megawatts to Unit 1 of the Palu 3 Thermal Power Plant in 2023.

PLN’s genuine support as a State-Owned Enterprise in the development of the fisheries industry deserves appreciation, as it demonstrates that the government not only acts as a regulator but also provides direct assistance through its business entities. We at Aruna certainly support every effort by the Central Sulawesi Provincial Government to prioritize modernization and technology utilization for advancing the economy, particularly in sustainable fisheries and fish cultivation.