Sunday, December 14, 2014

My Amazing Journey to Manokwari, West Papua



My Amazing Journey to Manokwari, West Papua

Originally written by : Rahmat Suyatna

A couple of months ago, I and my friend went to Manokwari, West Papua for doing business. A month before going there, I have set my mind that Manokwari was a scary place. I always heard that war amongst tribes often happened just for pig stealing. I was afraid of thinking about my journey planning. I asked my friend who had gone there last year. He said that I should not be affraid of going to Manokwari because it is the capital city West Papua province. Listening to my friend information, I was little bit calm. 



My colleage in Manokwari had bought us tickets for both of us. We would fly by Sriwijaya Air at 9.30 pm. We came to Soekarno Hatta airport at 8.30 pm so we  still had one hour to fly. We transit in Makassar before continuing our flight to Sorong then to Manokwari. We left for Makassar at 11.30 due to delay and arrived at Makassar at 03.00 am. Without having to wait, we directly walked to terminal for transit flight. We flight to Sorong at 04.30 a.m. The flight to Sorong took around 2 hours. We arrived there at 7. The plane embarked the baggages, because there were many passengers who went off in Sorong. We were waiting for gas refueling and new passengers aboard. We flight again to Manokwari at 7.30 a.m. Finally, the plane landed on Rendani Airport. We arrived at Manokwari at 08.00 am. My colleage had waited for us and picked us up to Fujita Hotel on Jalan Wosi. 


I was amazed that Manokwari was actually beautiful and the richest place I had ever visited. My friend told me right information about Manokwari, West Papua. At noon, I went to store to buy anti-mosquitos lotion to repel Malaria disease. According to my friend, Manokwari has become endemic Malaria and dengue fever. It was a terrible and horror news about Manokwari. We slept very well because we were very tired having been doing long journey from Java island to West Papua. I woke up late in the morning, I just knew that West Papua had 2 hours difference from Java island. It influenced me so much because my smartphone clock had been set to West Papua hour.


On my way to the office, my driver offered me to go around new governor palace on the hill. Again, I was amazed. The scenery from the hill was so incredibly beautiful. We could  watch the fisherman boat over the sea, the tanker of Pertamina fleet, and the small island that I did not know its name.  When I talked about the people of Manokwari. They were familiar people, they welcome us so friendly. The amity could be seen from their good behaviour when we went home to Java. They provided a wonderful gift in the form of batik.

In the night before going home to Java. We were accompanied by Edwin, office driver, to go around Manokwari city.  On the way to city, we passed a beautiful scenery of Manokwari sea. We could see Manokwari sea very beautiful in the night. I felt like at home in the city of Manokwari . Feeling much longer I wanted to stay here, enjoy the panoramic beauty , enjoy fresh grilled fish at Jalan Wosi , eat papeda served with yellow sauce fish. It was an unforgettable experience (*****)

Biofuels as Alternative Energy



Biofuels as Alternative Energy
By: Rahmat Suyatna
The world will have difficulty in obtaining fuel for the next ten years . High world oil demand makes the world oil producers constantly exploring sources of new reserves of oil wells . Meanwhile the old oil wells abandoned, so as to create new problems that damage the environment . The decreasing supply of energy derived from petroleum can lead to problems in countries that do not have their own oil wells.

Indonesia, which was known to have oil reserves are abundant enough now beginning to experience a shortage in production . Crude oil imports from the Middle East began to cover the supply of fuel in the country . This dilemma is compounded by the problem of fuel smuggling by parties who are not responsible .

Palm Oil as an Alternative Energy

Indonesia and Malaysia are the two countries with the largest oil palm plantations with relatively abundant production . The first position is occupied by Malaysia in CPO production world , and the next position is Indonesia . Crude Palm Oil ( CPO ) is the direct product of palm oil that has not been processed into derived products . Derivative products can be in the form of cooking oil and butter . Since the booming biodiesel , CPO is now predicted to be able to replace diesel fuel derived from petroleum . Forward with abundant oil production can be ascertained energy crisis may soon be over . It seems business in the field of oil palm plantations have bright prospects given the vast empty land in the territory of Indonesia .

World should encourage countries to become suppliers CPO agrarian world that 's fuel crisis can be addressed immediately while taking care of our planet stay green . We are optimistic that by encouraging the use of biofuels made ​​from palm oil can reduce CO emissions which ultimately can reduce the greenhouse effect that could potentially raise the temperature of the earth is getting hotter . ( *** )
Alternative Energy: Solar Power Plant
by: Rahmat Suyatna
 
Twenty years from now it is certain Indonesian energy crisis and electricity. Hydroelectric power plants are now in crisis decreasing the flow of water in the reservoirs were built several decades earlier. Concerns we will not excessive energy crisis. Today, our country even many building Diesel Power Plant and Power Plant which is driven by diesel engines and steam engines that require the consumption of diesel and coal. Clearly, the use of diesel and coal at the time would have difficulty because the domestic supply of diesel is also used by public transport, trucks, buses, trains and ships, so that the supply of diesel to be choked. Similarly, coal, although Indonesia has abundant coal reserves, is not wise if done continuously coal exploitation which in time will run out.
 In countries that do not have their own natural resources such as Japan, alternative energy continues to be developed by the government and expert personnel to obtain new sources of waterwheel. One is the use of solar panels to generate electricity for household and factory. Solar power has been used for household use even electricity generated can be sold to the government at the most competitive price.
 What is a Solar Power Plant?
 Solar Power Plant or Solar Cell is photovoltaic cells are arranged into a series that serves to convert the energy of sunlight into electrical energy. There are hundreds if not millions of cells photovoltaic used to capture sunlight and convert it into electricity so generated energy becomes large. Great energy is stored in an accumulator or some fruit that has great.From current electric accumulators of solar panels can be directly used for lighting TL (Tubular Lamp). The use of a DC converter (Direct Current) to AC (Alternating Current) can be used if the consumer wants to operate equipment that uses alternating current, such as washing machines, air conditioner, refrigerator, TV and others. Modern converter can raise the voltage of the accumulator 12 Volt DC to 220 V AC with power less than 1000 watts. The calculation is very logical if the accumulator is used to have the technical specifications 12 V DC, 120 Ampere.
 Objectives and Benefits?
 Load electricity in Indonesia which must be borne entirely by the government through the State Owned Enterprises, the State Electricity Company (PLN) is very high. The limited supply of electricity to force PLN must implement rolling blackouts. If this is not done then the increasingly heavy loads and can damage equipment in substations parent PLN. Indeed, after the New Order government, Indonesia is no longer build hydro-power facility. To overcome the shortages of electricity, SBY administration building power plants that use coal fuel. Does the absence of hydro-power development as a result of the decline in river water discharge that can be used to drive turbines. Thus, the purpose of providing solar power is an alternative electricity supply has been supplied from hydro-power. Through this article, the author encourages the government to promote solar power as an alternative independence electricity supply by citizens. The benefit for the government, with the increasing number of citizens who utilize the solar power supply and load PLN become increasingly reduced. It is assumed, if in each village installed solar panels measuring 450 VA per house. Say in each village there are 20 houses installed solar panels installed, the number of home solar panels across Indonesia is a village of 72 944 x 20 houses = 1.45888 million homes do not include wards. Then the electricity generated from solar panels is 1.45888 million 1.45888 million x 450 watts = 656 496 000 equivalent to 656 watts Megawatts. Imagine PLN could save 656 megawatts of electricity if it is a serious concern. However, the price of the expensive solar panels should be able to be repaid through the village unit cooperatives. Means there should be efforts to revive KUD (Villages Unit Cooperatives)  that once lived prevail.
 How do I install it?
 The fundamental problem of the utilization of solar power is the high price of the solar panels  and supporting equipment. But do not forget that a very high efficiency factor. In addition, solar power is environmentally friendly because there are no harmful emissions produced by the solar panels. Conceivably, if citizens have a high awareness to use and utilize solar power for everyday life, pollution can be reduced and the energy crisis can be terminated immediately.
 For the installation of solar panels that require considerable expertise in the installation of the house can be submitted directly to installatir provided by the store or the provider. Installation of the following home solar panel installation takes one or two working days. So, for those of you who feel a layman in terms of solar power. Feel free to start using it as part of our contribution to overcome the energy crisis in the country. (****)