Bringer of Light to Kamanggih

Kamanggih village in East Nusa Tenggara had no electricity. Community leader Umbu Hinggu Panjanji, 44, refused to remain idle, and instead encouraged the villagers to build a micro hydropower plant on Mbakuhau River.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

Ketua Koperasi Serba Usaha Kamanggih Umbu Hinggu Panjanji yang mengelola Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Mikro Hidro (PLTMH) Mbakuhau di Desa Kamanggih Kecamatan Kahaungu Eti Kabupaten Sumba Timur, Nusa Tenggara Timur.

Kamanggih village in Kahaungu Eti district, East Sumba regency, East Nusa Tenggara had no electricity. Community leader Umbu Hinggu Panjanji, 44, refused to remain idle, and instead encouraged the villagers to build a micro hydropower plant (PLTMH) on Mbakuhau River.

The lives of the Kamanggih villagers used to be one of many hardships. They found it difficult to access clean water and they had no electricity, never mind a mobile phone network. Kamanggih’s backwardness was complete. However, this is now part of history. The village now produces green energy and has become self-sufficient.

Kamanggih did not achieve energy self-sufficiency overnight. The village once received a water pump and solar panels through government assistance and an international donor in 1999. However, the equipment became damaged and was abandoned in a few months.

"There was no training for the people to operate and maintain the equipment. Eventually, all the equipment became completely useless," Umbu, who pushed for the development of renewable energy in Kamanggih, told the Kompas Daily Wallacea Expedition Team on 7 July 2019.

For decades, Umbu lived in the underdeveloped village. There was no electricity, which meant that there was no way to operate a water pump. The local administration and schools had no computers. Health services were also limited due to the absence of electricity.

Ibeka and JICA recommended that the village establish an operational body, which eventually materialized as a cooperative.

Change came to the village through a joint study by the People’s Business and Economy Institute (Ibeka) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), a partnership that aimed to encourage grassroots development projects in several countries. Ibeka and JICA recommended that the village establish an operational body, which eventually materialized as a cooperative.

Umbu was appointed as the chairman of Kamanggih multipurpose cooperative that was founded in 1999. The cooperative managed the clean water pumps and solar panels the village received through the Ibeka-JICA assistance. The height of its activities came in 2011, when the people of Kamanggih, along with Netherlands-based NGO Hivos (which supports renewable energy projects in Sumba) and Ibeka, built a micro hydropower plant (PLTMH) on the Mbakuhau River.

"I saw micro hydro potential. There is a waterfall that could be used [to produce] electrical energy. It needed engineering to produce electricity, but at least it was a possibility, than living in darkness," Umbu recalled.

The “potential” Umbu referred to was the Mbakuhau waterfall, located amidst the hills surrounding the

village. The waterfall was only 7 meters tall, but it was terraced. Umbu was convinced he could increase the height of the waterfall to 27 meters and thereby increase the energy it produced.

It\'s not easy to convince those who object. Some were influential figures. However, we approached them painstakingly.

Umbu presented his proposal to the village community. At first, some opposed the idea because they believed the village would experience major changes while the outcome would not necessarily be good. But more than a few people responded positively to Umbu\'s proposal, sure that electricity would bring positive change to the village.

"It\'s not easy to convince those who object. Some were influential figures. However, we approached them painstakingly," said Umbu.

Lighting the village

Eventually, Umbu obtained the community’s support. The hard work involved almost all villagers for several months, and in the end, they succeeded in building the micro hydropower plant. The 37 kWh of electricity that the plant produced passed the appropriate tests, and benefited 115 families.

In 2014, the energy output capacity of the micro hydropower plant was increased from 35 kWh to 450 kWh, and the electricity became available 24 hours. The number of households that enjoyed the electricity also increased. The villagers then set up the Jasa Peduli Kasih cooperative to manage their electricity.

The village’s electricity demand is around 5.7 kWh.

"The rest, we sell to [state-owned electricity company] PLN through the cooperative. PLN can use the electricity for other needs, such as supplying electricity to other residents, government offices, schools and health centers," said Umbu.

The village cooperative earns an income of Rp 4 million from the electricity sales to PLN. The villagers each pay an electricity rate of Rp 20,000 per month to PLN, which manages the Mbakuhau hydropower plant. This has made it easier for Kamanggih’s residents, because skilled technicians are needed to maintain the plant. PLN has assigned a special technical officer to monitor the plant’s water flow and to maintain its turbines.

Kamanggih village was finally electrified through the micro hydropower plant. Lighting was only the beginning of the village’s progress. Slowly but surely, the village developed. Clean water now flows to the village through the water pumps. Its residents have more time for farming and weaving.

The village children do not need to continue their education in the city, because the village already has junior and senior high schools. Health facilities have more complete services because the electricity powers refrigerators for storing vaccines. Village administrative services have become faster with the installation of a computer network. Kamanggih now receives cellular signals, which has improved its communication with the world beyond.

The micro hydropower plant is only the beginning for Umbu and the people of Kamanggih village. Umbu continues to work to increase his village’s energy self-sufficiency in initiating the production of biogas from manure.

"The idea to produce biogas arose because many people here have livestock, but their waste has not been utilized. They still use firewood for cooking," said Umbu.

The gas produced from the manure of four pigs can be used for daily cooking. Aside from there being no waste, it is also economical because there is no need to buy kerosene or gather firewood.

Through the knowledge he gained from the internet, Umbu experimented with turning livestock manure into biogas. He filled underground tubes with livestock manure and sealed them. The methane gas produced from the manure travels from the tube through a pipe to light his kitchen stove.

"The gas produced from the manure of four pigs can be used for daily cooking. Aside from there being no waste, it is also economical because there is no need to buy kerosene or gather firewood," said Umbu.

Other villagers became interested upon seeing Umbu’s success. Today, several residents are trying out biogas production techniques. Umbu and the village cooperative are continuing with their efforts to introduce the biogas to the wider community.

Umbu still has a few plans, particularly in developing additional renewable energy plants to meet the village’s growing electricity needs. He also continues to encourage the people to reuse waste.

"It takes time, but I am happy. If my village moves forward, the children and young people can progress too," he said.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

Umbu Hinggu Panjanji, the chairman of the Kamanggih Multipurpose Cooperative, manages the Mbakuhau Micro Hydropower Plant (PLTMH) in Kamanggih village of Kahaungu district in East Sumba regency, East Nusa Tenggara.

Umbu Hinggu Panjanji

Born: Kamanggih, East Sumba, 21 July 1975

Wife: Agustina R Hamapati

Children: Yohanes H Amah; Amadeus PH; Alberto H Panjanji

Occupation: Chairman, Kamanggih multipurpose cooperative, 2010-present; Councilor, 2014-2019 East Sumba Regional Legislative Council (DPRD); Chairman, UPK unit, PNPM Financial Management Program, 2007-2013