Renewable Energy Investments in Indonesia are Helping Rural Women
Channel: Asian Development Bank
Date: 2021-10-15

East Lombok, Indonesia – Homemade cassava chips are a common way to earn a living for the women of Geres Village. But their chip production capacity is limited, as is their market. To expand their business, they need to improve their processes and acquire certifications.

Leading renewable energy company Vena Energy, in collaboration with an Indonesian state university and the local government, facilitated livelihood training for 30 village women with experience in cassava chip production. The trainees are mostly housewives and women who were not able to pursue higher education. They are also members of Jeger Buana Lombok (JBL), a women’s group working together on ways to improve the livelihoods of village women. After the training, JBL members are hoping to modernize their production and eventually get Halal certification and accreditation. The Asian Development Bank, together with Leading Asia’s Private Infrastructure Fund (LEAP) and the Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in Asia II (CFPS II), provided Vena Energy with a $40.2 million financing package to support its four solar power plants in Eastern Indonesia. These investments are directly improving the lives of local women in surrounding villages, including Geres.

“Vena Energy will also provide us with a new stainless machine for our cassava chips production. This will ensure our cassava chips process will be hygienic. Equipped with new skills and knowledge, we also hope to make our production faster and easier. We are excited about the opportunities that this training will bring us. We are hopeful that the training and support from Vena Energy and ADB will improve our livelihoods in the future,” said head of JBL Kustina Harwati.

JBL members are also hopeful for a promising future as their business grows. Here’s how they see their lives being improved by their expanding cassava chips operation.

00:00 The women of Jeger Buana Lombok of Geres Village, Lombok Island
00:45 ADB's financing package to Vena Energy's four solar power plants in Eastern Indonesia
01:46 How Lombok cassava chips are made 
03:15 ADB's commitment to empower women through its clean energy projects
03:39 Aspirations of the women of Jeger Buana Lombok