Forests, Water, and Energy: Strengthening the Management of the Kali Maron Micro Hydroelectric Power Plant in Mojokerto  

The Janjing Hamlet community, along with the Seloliman PPLH, initiated the construction of a micro-hydro power plant (PLTMH) in 1993. This initiative was driven by the needs of the community, which lacked electricity from PLN. The 12 kW PLTMH installation was successfully built with the support of the German Embassy and operated until 2000. However, the electricity generated was deemed inadequate to meet the community's electricity needs. Therefore, in 2000, the community again implemented a new system. upgrade The turbine, supported by UNDP, increased electricity production capacity to 25 kW. The community and the Seloliman PPLH also agreed to form the Kalimaron PLTMH Association as an organization to ensure the sustainability of PLTMH management. 

As a result, 71 families in Junjing Hamlet and some residents of Sempur Hamlet, Seloliman Village, have access to 24-hour electricity. The Seloliman PPLH (Economic and Environmental Management Agency) also benefits, as most of its educational centers and educational tourism businesses, including lodging, use electricity from the PLTMH. For turbine maintenance and repairs, the Kalimaron PLTMH Association charges a monthly fee of Rp 50-Rp 60 per month for PLTMH electricity users. This fee is considered 25% cheaper than using electricity from PLN.

To improve the community's economy, after carrying out upgrade turbine, the Kalimaron PLTMH Association realized that there was excess electricity capacity generated by the PLTMH that was not absorbed by the community, so the Kalimaron PLTMH Association decided to interconnect with PLN to sell the excess electricity generated. From these sales, the Kalimaron PLTMH Association obtained additional organizational income of IDR 12 million to IDR 15 million per month. However, this only lasted for 17 years (2003 to 2019). From 2004 to the present, the interconnection program was not continued by PLN so that the community lost its source of income which had an impact on the reduced enthusiasm of the administrators and members of the association in managing the PLTMH. On the other hand, the water discharge as a source of electricity is getting smaller so it is no longer able to produce 25 Kw of electricity, and the PLTMH turbine has reached its service life limit so it needs to be upgrade return.

Therefore with the support Dana Nusantara, The Kalimaron PLTMH Association with the assistance of PPLH Seloliman has again initiated the implementation of the Kalimaron PLTMH turbine device revitalization program. As a result, the turbine facilities and infrastructure including the turbine device have been successfully revitalized which has an impact on the return of optimal electricity production generated by the PLTMH to 25 Kw. In addition, the Association also strengthens institutions through institutional restructuring of the Kalimaron PLTMH Association by involving young people as PLTMH managers which further strengthens the management of the Kalimaron PLTMH including strengthening relationships with downstream water user farmer groups to avoid conflicts in the dry season. To maintain water sources in the upstream river that supports the PLTMH, as they have often done for two decades, the community is rehabilitating less productive critical land on 25 hectares of land by planting avocados, durian, stink beans, longans, empon-empon, saca inch beans by involving 47 Kendalisodo Agro Forest Farmer Groups. This program strengthens community-based renewable energy institutions and access while ensuring ongoing forest and water restoration.