NZMATES News

Residents of Pulau Tiga, which consists of 56 households and a small resort, currently rely on a diesel generator that operates only 12 hours a day for electricity access. Consider the economic and livelihood potential that residents of Pulau Tiga could achieve with reliable electricity access, supporting PLN in the refurbishment of Pulau Tiga solar PV mini-grid was one of the first projects initiated by NZMATES.

As part of NZMATES efforts to build RE-related capacities of work health and safety, NZMATES together with Dinas ESDM held "Electrical Power Hazard and Industrial Workplace Safety Training for Solar Plant System". The 3 days training was carried for three days from May 23rd, 2022, to May 25th, 2022. 

NZMATES held its 7th Technical Committee (TC) meeting virtually on Thursday, 7th April 2022. The meeting was facilitated by the Maluku Development Planning Board (Bappeda), and attended by Dinas ESDM Maluku, PLN MMU, and NZMATES.

NZMATES presented the progress activities up until March 2022, and discussed the work plan until October 2022. Despite the uncertainty of the Covid-19 situation, NZMATES has been able to achieve an increase in its capacity building activities. NZMATES also received useful information and inputs from our stakeholders during the meeting.  

February began with the first field trip since the pandemic started. The trip was made to conduct field surveys and technical assessments on the feasibility of building new solar PV mini-grids.

Divide into two teams, Aru team and Tual team. The Tual team spent two days in Desa Mangur Niela (8-9 February) and Desa Tiflen (10-11 February). While the Aru team spent three nights in Desa Ujir (8-11 February) and one night in Kolaha (11-12 February).

As part of NZMATES effort to strengthen local renewable energy capacity in Maluku, NZMATES held a Renewable Energy Basics Training for Vocational High School (SMK) teachers on Thursday, 27^th January 2022. 

Indonesia EBTKE ConEx 2021 Forum is an integrated event dedicated to driving the growth and development of sustainable energy in Indonesia. The event presents an opportunity for all stakeholders, such as the government, private sector, as well as international and national organisations, to stay informed about the latest updates and innovations in renewable energy. This year, NZMATES hosted a virtual class on Wednesday 24th November, “Lessons Learned on Sustainability of Renewable Energy Mini Grids”.

As part of its efforts to encourage greater participation of women in Maluku’s renewable energy sector, NZMATES has conducted its first Women in Energy Initiative, held in June and culminating in a public webinar on July 15, 2021. 

The “Pūngao Pattimura Mini-grid Training Lab” is now fully installed at the Engineering Faculty of Pattimura University and the system has received its commissioning certificate. 

The Programme Steering Group (PSG), made up of New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT, represented by the New Zealand Embassy in Jakarta), along with PLN, EBTKE, and NZMATES as the Secretariat, recently held its fourth meeting on May 5.

NZMATES presented the programme’s progress so far, key achievements, and work plan until October 2021. PSG members had the opportunity to discuss these updates and priorities, and in particular highlighted the importance of fund-matching activities and O&M needs for solar power plants in Maluku.