Investigating the Use of Energy and Water in Villages in the East Mesuji Region of Sumatra, Indonesia
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World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 66 2010 Investigating the Use of Energy and Water in Villages in the East Mesuji region of Sumatra, Indonesia Ahmad Taufik and Jonathan Whale the same village has also led to ethnic clashes in some villages Abstract- Lampung, Sumatra is one of the targeted areas of the [10-11]. millenniulD development goal (MDG) in Indonesia, partk-ularly An example of an area where many "transmigration" villages related issues on energy and healthy water. The aim of this paper is to were established in Sumatra is the East Mesuji region, located look at the impact of programs related to drinking water and in the district of TuIang Bawang in the province of Lampung. renewable energy projects on two villages in the East Mesuji region The deforestation has been so intense in this district that today of Lampung through field observations (conducted in the villages of the rain forest is one tenth of the size that it was before the Tanjung Menang and Tanjung Mas MakInur) and interview. The policy of transmigration [12J. The villages in the Tulang interviews were given to community leaders in the village ofTanjung Menang. The results show that both villages have continuing Bawang district have one of the highest rates of incidence of problems in regard to poor water quality, sanitation, short energy water-borne diseases in Lampung [13-15J. Moreover, for the supplies, vulnerable to increasing energy prices, environmental East Mesuji region only, it was reported that more than 124 degradation. The renewable energy projects were not successful due villages are not equipped with basic facilities such as to a variety of issues including ownership, overestimating usage and electricity and water supply system for over 29 years [16]. underestimating affordability, use of the technology for applications The seriousness of the plight of villagers in the that it was not designed for and lack of adequate training for the transmigration villages in Lampung has prompted action from villagers. both government departments and non-government organizations. Over a period from 1990 to 2006 the Lampung Keywords- Energy and water use, environmental degradation, government supported programs to improve community health renewabfe energy technofogy. sanitation. in rural areas through sanitation program [17J At both national and provincial level, government L INTRODUCTION departments have also supported programs related to ince the 1960's to 19805 the national Department of improving energy services to rural areas through the STransmigration in Indonesia has operated a transmigration installation of renewable energy technology. In the East program that was designed to improve the economic life of Mesuji area, a key project was the 2007 development, in the cornmunities in areas of highest population density village of Tanjung Mas Malanur (Latitude: 3°45' - 4°05'; (predominantly Java Island [1-2]) by resettling communities in Longitude: 105°07' - 105°38'), of a multi-billion rupiah rural areas on other islands. In the 1970s, the transmigration commercial mall featuring the demonstration of photovoltaic program targeted three main islands of Sumatera, Borneo and (PV) technology for business premises and public facilities. Papua as locations for resettlement due to the islands Other government initiatives have resulted in a small number containing areas of low population density and large areas of of stand-alone solar home systems installed within villages in rain forest [3]. Out of the 903 new villages established under the area [18-19]. the transmigration program, many bave experienced problems Non-government organizations have also been active in such as deforestation leading to high salinity, lack of electricity trying to address the problems experienced in the and water supply systems and poor sanitation. Combined with transmigration villages. A key organization working in the limited access to health services and a low level of education East Mesuji is the Yayasan Pijar Cendikiawan Foundation this has resulted in a severe seasonal spread of disease [4~91· (YPC), based in Bandar Lampung. In 2001 the YFC, with Transmigration ofpeopJe from different ethnic backgrounds to financial support from GTZ, initiated a long-term research project aimed at improving agricultural productivity and reduce the spread of diseases in the villages by the use of Ahmad Taufik is aPhD candidate at School of Engineering and Energy, wind-driven mecharucal water pumping system, referred to as Murdoch University. Murdoch - Western Australia 6150 (phone: +61 8 9360 the PKM. Traditional farmers from the area were involved in 6286; fax: +61 8 93606624~ ._mail: [email protected]). the design to manufacturing stages of the wind pump [20]. Jonathan Whale is currently Director of the National Small Wind Turbine In 2005 a demonstration project of the wind pump was Centre at RISE and a Lecturer in Energy Studies and Renewable Energy Engineering at Murdoch University Murdoch - Western Australia 6150 installed in the village ofTanjung Menang (Latitude of4°00'- (phone: +61 8 93607235: fax: +61 8 93606624: e-mail: 4°15'; Longitude of 105°15' - 105°30'), one of the [email protected]). 1449 World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 66 2010 World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 66 2010 pipe (see Fig. 4). The water tank itself was not maintained well transmigration villages in the East Mesuji region of Lampung facilities, energy usage, fuel prices, water resources, water children dlstances of 15 to 30 kIn to the nearest schooL To and it was observed that the water had an unpleasant odor and, (see Fig. I). The Tanjung Menang village is noted for having supply systems, and installed renewable energy technologies. receive proper health treatment, villagers have to go to the the highest number of ethnic tribes (twelve) of any village in The main objective of the field observation in Tanjung Mas district hospital. For the villagers of Tanjung Menang, the after sediment had settled, was green in color. the East Mesuji. The village is also one of the central villages Makrnur was to investigate the PV lighting systems for distance to the nearest health clinic is around 75 km and the in the transmigration villages either side of the provincial commercial premises and for public facilities (road light, water price of treatment is very costly. The main road leading in and boundaries of the provinces of Lampung and South Sumatra. supply system and mosque light) as well as the water treatment out of each village is comprised of clay and gravel, fonning an The YPC established a research station in Tanjung Menang station. unsuitable road surface during the wet season. The condition and observed that the PKM requires further development in of the road deteriorates with the movement of large trucks on order to meet the growth in demand in water for the villagers. B. Interview the road surface. The varying accessibility of roads is a The YPC has obtained further research grants to develop the determining factor in the prices that the villagers pay for fuel, PKM and aim to install the system to other villages in the Gauging the opinion of community leaders of Tanjung energy and water. area[21]. Menang on key issues was carried out by semi~structured All villagers in Tanjung Menang and Tanjung Mas Makmllr The aim of this work is to investigate the impact of interview. Local village culture dictates that community villages are strongly dependent on wood for cooking, government and NOO programs related to drinking water and leaders must satisfY certain criteria related to their age, particularly in the dry season. In the wet season, when dry renewable energy in the villages of Tanjung Menang and experience and dedication to the village. For the interviews, wood can be dlfficult to obtain, some villagers burn kerosene, Tanjung Mas Makmur in the East Mesuji region. 25 participants were selected in tenns of their position, The scope of work for the paper was defined by the influence and reputation within the Tanjung Menang village. or coconut shells, a minority of villagers burn coal. following objectives, namely: (1) to ascertain the condltions The interview materials were structured in terms of six It was observed that the water sources in the Tanjung within the villages with regards to energy, water, sanitation general areas of questioning, namely: Menang and the Tanjung Mas Makmur villages are non~ and public facilities; (2) to investigate the perfonnance of the 1) questions on backgroundlcontext: typical questions protected and are susceptible to pollution from waste water NOO wind pump project in Tanjung Menang; (3) to included length. of stay in the village and experience as a from septic tanks and households and from rubbish that is Fig. 4 Water supply station in the Tanjung Mas Makmur: (a) investigate the perfonnance of the PV demonstration project in community leader dumped in river and ponds. Intake gate of water supply system; (b) electrical~DC "Water Tanjung Mas Makmur, and (4) to gauge the opinion of 2) questions on opinions regarding drinking wafeY". typical From Fig. 3, it was observed that villagers do not treat the pumping; and (c) output water pool. community leaders of Tanjung Menang on the issues of -..vater, questions included sources of drinking water, concern about waste water from the septic tank or the household, which is energy and technology within the village. water resources, opinions about water quality and flooded to the backyard. The distance between the villagers' In investigating the performance of the NGO wind pump expectations of government programs on water supply wells and their septic tanks is typically less than 6 meterS. In (PKM) project in Tanjung Menang, it was discovered that the systems. the wet season, it was reported that wells were contaminated PKM had failed to survive through a combination of lack of 3) questions on opinions regarding energy: typical questions with this waste water.