STEI Professor's Comments on the Construction of Electric Toll Roads

Professor of Electrical Engineering, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Pekik Argo Dahono He believes that the efficiency of the electricity industry should not be linked to low electricity prices. He said that low electricity prices actually tend to encourage waste.

"High electricity consumption as an indicator of a nation's progress must be placed in the context of electricity consumption for productive purposes. For example, electricity usage for public transportation systems, not for household needs," he said in a written statement on Tuesday (September 25, 2018).

Pekik also questioned why the government is not building an electric toll road or superhero for wider and more efficient electrification amidst the development of the sea toll road and the Palapa Ring which are currently being promoted.

"The electricity toll road will connect large islands, allowing regions to share power generation resources," he said.

In addition, he also stated that the existence of Hydroelectric Power Plants (PLTA) in Papua and Kalimantan, as well as geothermal energy on several islands, the results of which can be disseminated to several other places.

"The hydroelectric potential in Papua and Kalimantan can be utilized for those two islands or shared with other regions. Likewise, the abundant geothermal energy in Sulawesi, Maluku, and Nusa Tenggara is also available," he said.