Farmers make their own cheap mini hydroelectric plants

Rasid, a non-degree farmer in Indonesia, has succeeded with the project to build a mini hydroelectric plant to power more than 600 poor households in the village for only 5 USD / month.

Mr. Rasid brought light to hundreds of villagers.(Photo: CNA.)

The 48-year-old farmer is considered the "electric hero" of the village in Andungbiru, West Java province, which is unknown to electricity 20 years ago.

Although Rasid was not well educated, Mr. Rasid persevered himself to set up the river wheels, install generators and energize about 70 neighbors' families and be paid with eggs, fruit cakes or free.

Recently, Mr. Rasid decided to upgrade the system, but this time everyone worked together to help him build a mini hydroelectric plant worth about $ 50,000.

Rasid's network currently supplies 600 families in four neighboring villages for only about $ 5 a month, six times cheaper than using electricity from the National Electric Company (PLN).

In 2016, PLN even offered to buy off this cheap power supply system and paid Rasid about $ 4,000 a month. But Mr. Rasid refused.

" My goal is to improve the welfare of the poor, create jobs for them. I want to set up a laboratory for students from elementary to secondary. That's my solution for the future " - Rasid told CNA station.

He said he wants to expand his project further and will even help improve Internet access.