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Mimika PUPR Agency: Rp500 Billion Needed for Clean Water System
WINDONESIA July 17, 2024
Mimika PUPR Agency Head Robert Mayaut. (ANTARA).
The Mimika Regency Public Works and Spatial Planning (PUPR) Agency stated that a budget of Rp500 billion is needed to build a clean water system in the area to serve 500 families.
Mimika PUPR Agency Head Robert Mayaut said in Timika District, Mimika Regency, Central Papua Province on Jul. 1, 2024, that the need for clean water remains a problem in Mimika Regency.
"We require a very large budget to address the clean water issue in Mimika because we use diesel engines, which will require a significant amount of fuel," he said.
According to Robert, a budget of Rp1.5 billion per month is needed for fuel. Based on this calculation, his agency plans to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) to fund electricity for one year.
"We will sign an MoU with Freeport to cover the electricity costs for one year, as the monthly fuel costs for diesel engines are very high," he added.
Robert explained that they would collaborate with several institutions to run the clean water operations due to the substantial budget required.
"The institutions will be able to handle several tasks, including water feasibility checks and draft regional regulations on fees for the public," he stated.
Robert also highlighted that the 2023 and 2024 regional budgets allocated to Mimika only amounted to Rp200 billion.
"The Rp500 billion budget is intended to supply clean water to 50,000 households, but we have only received Rp200 billion. We hope that this year we can start supplying water to the connections that are already in place," he concluded.
Source: papua.antaranews.com