Residents on motorcycles pass a road being repaired in Jayapura city, Papua in June 2021. (AntaraV| Indrayadi TH)

The Social Affairs Ministry is working with the November 10 Institute of Technology (ITS) in Surabaya to develop electric dirt motorbikes as part of developing the electric vehicle ecosystem in Papua.

Bambang Pramujati, the ITS Deputy Rector, said that the university is tasked to provide 34 electric trail (e-trail) motorcycles which are modified from gasoline fueled dirt motorbikes, while giving training to 16 Papua youths in the process.

“The training is expected to be a transfer of knowledge to the Papua youth. They are trained to be able to assemble, maintain and use the e-trail in the future,” Bambang said in Surabaya on Thursday.

The training will involve six youths from Puncak Jaya Regency in Central Papua, five students from Yahukimo regency in Papua Highland and five students from Cendrawasih University in Papua.

Upon completion, the e-trail will be distributed in Puncak Jaya and Yahukimo.

The Social Affairs Ministry is studying a plan to build electric vehicle charging stations, especially those with solar panels for regions without electricity infrastructures.

“Cooperation with the ITS is part of several plans we have to improve the welfare of Indonesians,” said the Ministry’s director for remote indigenous communities and social entrepreneurship. (dre)

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by Wahyoe Boediwardhana (The Jakarta Post)

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