JAKARTA – On April 11, the United States Embassy co-sponsored an energy seminar that will help Indonesia increase clean water access through improved energy efficiency at water utilities (PDAMs). The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Indonesia Urban Water Sanitation and Hygiene (IUWASH) program co-sponsored seminar will help PDAMs save energy and reduce energy costs, and the money saved can be used to improve services.
“By helping authorities and utilities and to provide safe, piped water to more Indonesians’ homes, the United States is contributing to improve the overall quality of life and health of the Indonesia’s less-fortunate communities. Clean water dramatically reduces illness from diseases such as diarrhea which can result in death especially for children under the age of five,” said USAID Mission Director Glenn Anders. “Access to clean water and basic sanitation is an essential element in Indonesia’s struggle against poverty, inequality and illness.”
The one-day seminar included participation from Indonesian Water Utilities Association (Perpamsi) and 40 PDAM directors from all over Indonesia, mostly from IUWASH assisted cities. In addition to USAID, the seminar was co-sponsored by the Ministry of Public Work-Directorate General Human Settlement, Perpamsi, the Indonesian Agency for the Development of Water Supply (BPPSPAM), the Asian Development Bank, and the World Bank.
Based on an initial assessment, IUWASH found that the energy cost of IUWASH PDAM partners is approximately 30 percent. USAID’s IUWASH program is working with the Ministry of Public Works Directorate General of Human Settlements and the central government to conduct an energy audit for five PDAMs in Kabupaten Karawang, Kota Semarang, Kota Surakarta, Kabupaten Gresik, and Kabupaten Lamongan. The financial cost-benefit analysis will be the basis for the improvement of PDAM business plans for internal financing and/or potential financing by a third party.
“We realized the importance of energy efficiency to improve the quality of PDAM operational. We appreciate IUWASH support to implement the energy audit and we will use it as a basis for efficiency measures,” said Muhammad S.E., Director of PDAM Gresik district.
USAID IUWASH, a $33.7 million program, works in partnership with the Government of Indonesia, the private sector, and civil society to expand access to clean water for two million people and improve basic sanitation for 200,000 people in at least 50 urban areas. The five-year program that was launched in 2011 currently assists 34 water utilities to increase access to water services by helping improve the water utilities performance and energy efficiency. The program is just one component of the United States’ environment and health programs in Indonesia that demonstrates the breadth of U.S. engagement under the U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership.