Erick Officially Launches Solar Program for Fishers in Cilacap
Cilacap, September 17, 2022 – The Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOE), Erick Thohir, officially launched the Solar program for fishers’ cooperatives (Solusi) at the Perikanan Samudera Port, Cilacap Regency, Central Java Province (Jateng) on Saturday (17/9/2022). The Solusi fisher program launch was also attended by the Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs, Teten Masduki, President Director of PT Pertamina (Persero), Nicke Widyawati, Cilacap Regent Tatto Suwarto Pamuji, and Member of Commission VI DPR, Adisatrya Suryo Sulisto.
Erick said President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) assigned himself and Teten to find solutions to improve fishers’ lives. Erick said fishers’ welfare should be an essential part of government programs.
"One of them is the Fishers’ Solusi program, which today provides access to the fuel (diesel) price that fishers have received, maybe IDR 7,000 to IDR 10,000 per liter. Today,we make sure the price is IDR 6,800 per liter," said Erick.
In this program, continued Erick, Pertamina directly distributes subsidized diesel fuel to fishers’ petrol stations under the Mino Saroyo Cooperative, which consists of 8,500 fishers.
The man born in Jakarta said that the program, initiated by the Ministry of SOEs and the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, was a form of the government's alignment with fishersamid the diverting fuel subsidies policy. Erick said that the Solusi program could improve fishers’ access to Solar. Therefore, Solar subsidies were more targeted and allocated directly to fishers. Erick and Teten also ensure that cooperatives are the spearhead so that the diesel subsidies are properly targeted.
"With the cooperative, it means that there is a name, address, and a digital system. Thus, if someone brings a jerry can, it does not matter because there is a barcode, the data is visible," said the former Inter Milan president.
Erick said that this made the Solusi program not only distribute subsidized diesel fuel but also improve the people's fishery business model by involving cooperatives as the first aggregator and guarantor for fishers. For Erick, Indonesian fishers are sailors who need subsidies and a healthy community fishery business ecosystem that supports fishermen.
"From Mr. Teten, the cooperative will be given financing (working capital), we from BRI will also encourage financing for fishers, then fisherwomen will not be left behind, PNM Mekaar will also present for them," continued Erick.
Erick continued that SOEs also seek to open market access at home and abroad and involve the private sector as off-takers or buyers of fishers’ products. Erick hopes that the Fishers’Solusi program can be a breakthrough in answering fishers’problems.
"It is not just touching the surface problems but also fixing the business ecosystem as a long-term solution. Whatever the problem is, we face it, and we solve it. Because productive thoughts can lead us to concrete solutions for an advanced, prosperous, and global Indonesia," continued Erick.
Erick also appreciated the collaboration with the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, as well as Pertamina's support in the fishers’ Solusi program. Besides Cilacap, said Erick, there are six pilot locations of the Fishers’ Solusi program. It includes Lhoknga, Aceh; Deli Serdang, North Sumatera; Indramayu, West Java; Pekalongan, Semarang, Central Java; Surabaya, East Java; and East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), which will run in the next three months.
"Cilacap is a pilot project. If it goes well, it will be developed in seven locations and expanded throughout Indonesia," Erick added.
The Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs, Teten Masduki,believes that the Solusi program is an answer to fishers’ problems. Teten said that 60 percent of fishers’ production costs have been for fuel. He also said that the Solar subsidy will hugely impact the fishers’ welfare. The Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs with the Ministry of SOEs also encourage increased processing for added value to fisherman's products.
"We, and Mr. Erick are also thinking about financing, processing, and offtaking whether from within the country or abroad. Therefore, the fishers have maximum profits," said Teten.
Member of Commission VI DPR, Adisatrya Suryo Sulisto, appreciated Erick and Teten collaboration in facilitating and financing fishers in Cilacap. Adi assessed that this kind of alignment provides fishers with a sense of comfort to increase their catch productivity.
"Future assistance will be provided for both the availability of fuel and the uptake of fishing goods, as Mr. Erick mentioned. We hope that the Ministry of SOEs and the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs programs can continue to help fishers in Cilacap," said Adi.**