Indonesian Ministry of Environment Engages Youth in Energy Transition at Bandung Hydropower Plant

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLH/BPLH) of Indonesia has organized the fourth episode of its 'KELANA' program, designed to foster environmental awareness among young people. This initiative, titled 'Kenali Lingkungan Bareng Anak Muda' (Know the Environment with Young People), was held in Bandung, West Java, on Tuesday (1/9), coinciding with World Lakes Day. In collaboration with PLN Indonesia Power, the KLH/BPLH brought together 11 selected high school students from across the archipelago. Alongside Victoria Titiasari Kosasieputri, Miss Indonesia Environment 2026, they were given an opportunity to closely observe practices in water resource conservation, environmental management, and the transition to clean energy. The initial visit focused on the Bengkok Hydropower Plant (PLTA Bengkok). This historical facility, which has been supplying electricity since 1923, utilizes the flow of the Cikapundung River as its primary source. The participants were treated to an educational experience that transformed theoretical knowledge from classrooms into a captivating visual reality. Hamzah Wildan Muharam, the Team Leader at PLTA Bengkok, warmly welcomed the KLH/BPLH's strategic initiative. He explained how the corporation maintains the balance of the ecosystem surrounding its operational area, which spans over a century. "Regarding the environmental management we conduct at PLTA Bengkok, especially for the water we take from the Cikapundung River, we carry out waste cleaning before it's used for electricity generation. The collected waste is then distributed to local waste disposal sites," Hamzah stated. In addition to maintaining the cleanliness of the river basin, PLTA Bengkok actively implements corporate sustainability programs, such as regular tree planting. Hamzah assessed that the KELANA program is a visionary step by KLH/BPLH, highly beneficial for the future of the students, both in broadening their ecological insights and enriching their academic portfolios. "It's a great program from KLH, as it can enhance the insights of all our friends, especially since they are still in high school. This can also serve as an addition to their portfolios, helping them determine their future direction, particularly when pursuing higher education," Hamzah explained. Echoing this sentiment, Miss Indonesia Environment 2026, Victoria Titiasari Kosasieputri, appreciated KLH/BPLH's concrete steps in opening young minds to these issues, noting that some participants were visiting outside their home regions for the first time. "On the first day, we visited a hydropower plant in Bandung, West Java, and it was certainly full of excitement because we could see the equipment we usually only see in textbooks, but now we are seeing the turbines and generators directly, along with other high school students from all over Indonesia," Victoria shared. For the KELANA participants, the visit resolved various questions about the process of converting natural energy. Najwa Aisyah Raihanah, a representative from SMAN 2 Purworejo High School, expressed her admiration for learning directly about the process of distributing environmentally friendly energy. "Honestly, overall, this has been incredibly exciting because I've truly learned firsthand how water can be turned into electricity that is then supplied to people's homes. I've always wondered, like, if there's a dam, how can water suddenly become electricity in someone's house? Well, all those questions have been answered here," said Najwa. Through the KELANA Episode 4 program, KLH/BPLH hopes that students will understand the importance of water conservation and energy transition, and grow to become agents of change in guiding Indonesia's future towards sustainable, green, and equitable development. Source: CNN Indonesia