The Mentawai Islands, located approximately 150 kilometers off the west coast of Sumatra, consist of four main islands: Siberut, Sipora, North Pagai, and South Pagai and are home to one of the oldest tribes in Indonesia. For the Mentawai people, nature is not an object separate from human life. They uphold the philosophy of Arat Sabulungan, an indigenous belief system that places great importance on the balance between humans, spirits, and the universe. In this belief, elements of nature such as trees, animals, and water are considered to have spirits and must be respected to maintain the harmony of life.
Mentawai’s remote geographic condition makes it one of the most difficult areas to reach, but on the other hand, this has kept its customary forests well-preserved, especially on Siberut Island. However, a major challenge arises regarding development: how to bring progress without damaging the natural order strictly guarded by these traditional values?
The Shadow of Diesel and Past Project Failures
To this day, the electrification portrait in Mentawai remains concerning. The majority of residents in the interior, such as in Matotonan and Saliguma villages, can only enjoy electricity for 6 hours per day, typically from 6:00 PM to 12:00 AM. Their current primary energy source is Diesel Power Plants (PLTD) operated by the state electricity company, PLN. This dependency is highly unsustainable, not only due to the impact of greenhouse gas emissions but also because of supply chain vulnerabilities, as fuel deliveries are frequently delayed when severe weather strikes.
Energy transition efforts were previously attempted through a bamboo-based Biomass Power Plant (PLTBm) project that swallowed grant funds of up to US$12.4 million. Unfortunately, this project has been abandoned and has ceased operations since 2022. This failure was caused by a lack of meaningful community involvement and a mismatch between technology and the local context; local bamboo proved unsuitable as fuel, and the community felt burdened by having to convert their productive land into bamboo forests.
Hope and the Role of Green Financing
Amidst the failure of biomass, Matotonan Village in South Siberut emerged as evidence of solar energy’s potential. Since 2011, this village has had a Centralized Solar Power Plant (PLTS) with a capacity of 75 kWp. Unlike biomass which triggered local resentment, solar energy in Matotonan is better accepted due to its lower operational costs and environmental friendliness.
However, after more than a decade, the effectiveness of the Matotonan PLTS has begun to decline drastically. Of the 12 installed inverters, only 6 are still functioning, and many new households are not yet connected to the grid. Rejuvenating these tools requires significant costs; this is where green financing plays a crucial role.
Green financing is more than just a one-time grant; it is about creating a sustainable financing scheme to support the rejuvenation and maintenance of critical components, such as batteries and inverters, which have a limited lifespan. Furthermore, this financing enables modular network scalability, allowing the electricity grid to expand alongside population growth without encroaching upon the forest. With access to the right financing, economic independence can be achieved as the community gains the capacity to manage facilities autonomously, ultimately severing their reliance on fossil fuels from outside the island.
Energy independence in Mentawai will not be achieved through technology alone, but through funding models that understand local needs. By shifting focus from large-scale invasive projects toward solar energy investments supported by green financing, Mentawai can meet its electricity needs in a clean, stable manner that is aligned with the spirit of Arat Sabulungan to maintain the balance of nature.
