SOME 1,600 ENERGY SELF-RELIANT VILLAGES CREATED IN RI SINCE 2007

Denpasar, Nov 11 (ANTARA) - The government's Energy Self-Reliant Village (DME) program has since 2007 made around 1,600 villages in the country capable of meeting their own energy needs, and is expected to do the same to more villages currently still lacking electricity, an economic affairs official said.
The number of villages that had yet to enjoy electricity now was 6,200 but the government intended to cut this number by at least 2,000 by 2009, said Dr Bayu Krisnamurthi, a deputy for agrucultural and fishery affairs to the coordinating minister for economic affairs, here Tuesday.
Speaking at a "National Energy Self-Reliant Village Meeting" here, he said the government's program was an effort to develop villages by helping them to meet their need for electrical energy through intervention and technological investment.
"The expected technological investment is to produce energy from local renewable resources," he said.
The energy produced was used by the locals to fulfill their energy needs such as lighting and productive economic activities, Krisnamurti said.
Villages or rural areas that can produce their own electricity from local resources would gradually be able to break away from their isolation.
"They are not only expected to be able to end their isolation but also to create job opportunities so that they can improve their own welfare," he said.
The meeting being held for three days until November 13 is being attended by delegates from DME villages , 'energy care' non-governmental organization activists and local administration officials.