Land Conservation Transformation Program at Besai Hydropower Plant Named Best Initiative in Renewable Energy Category, Safeguarding Clean Energy Potential Worth IDR 787 Billion per Year
Jakarta, 9 October 2025 – PT PLN Nusantara Power (PLN NP) once again recorded an outstanding national achievement. One of the company’s flagship programs, BEST (Besai Environmental Sustainability and Transformation), was awarded the Lestari Award 2025 in the Renewable Energy category.
The prestigious award was presented during the Lestari Summit & Awards 2025, organized by Kompas Gramedia, at Raffles Hotel Jakarta.
This achievement reinforces PLN NP’s role as the largest power generation subholding of PT PLN (Persero) in Southeast Asia, continuously integrating technological innovation and environmental sustainability to safeguard Indonesia’s green energy resilience. The BEST program was recognized for delivering concrete solutions to conservation challenges in the electricity sector, particularly at the Besai Hydropower Plant (PLTA Besai) in Lampung.
President Director of PLN Nusantara Power, Ruly Firmansyah, stated that the award serves as strong validation of the company’s commitment to sustainable innovation and the clean energy transition.
“The Lestari Award 2025 affirms that conservation efforts are no longer merely obligations, but critical business strategies. The BEST program at PLTA Besai demonstrates how technology and collaboration can protect our green energy potential from environmental degradation. We have successfully transformed significant losses into sustainability. PLN Nusantara Power will continue to advance AI-based innovations as a strategic pathway toward Net Zero Emissions, while ensuring reliable and environmentally friendly electricity for Indonesia,” said Ruly.
The success of the BEST program not only secures the long-term operation of PLTA Besai, but also delivers social value to local communities through improved soil quality, water management, and economic empowerment of farmers. The program has now become a smart conservation model ready to be replicated at other hydropower plants across Indonesia.
The BEST program was developed in response to critical challenges faced by PLTA Besai, where reservoir volume had declined sharply from 1,200,000 m³ to just 414,014 m³ due to severe sedimentation. Uncontrolled agricultural land clearing in upstream areas further exacerbated the situation, with erosion rates reaching 44.54%.
These conditions threatened the loss of up to 315 GWh of clean energy per year, which—if replaced by diesel power generation—could result in potential losses of approximately IDR 787 billion per year and increase carbon emissions by as much as 236,250 tons of CO? annually.
Through AI-based Digital Soil Conservation Transformation, the BEST program enables precise spatial monitoring, erosion prediction, and targeted conservation interventions. Active collaboration has been established with local governments, academics, field facilitators, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to empower farmers within the watershed area. This integrated approach not only preserves clean energy potential, but also enhances agricultural productivity and environmental quality in communities surrounding the hydropower plant.
PLN Nusantara Power’s victory at the Lestari Award 2025 continues a series of similar achievements in previous years. At the Lestari Award 2024, PLN NP also received recognition in the Environment – Renewable Energy category through the landmark Cirata Floating Solar Power Plant project with a capacity of 192 Megawatt Peak (MWp), which is the third-largest floating solar power plant in the world.
Media Contact
Harry Purnomo
Vice President Corporate Communication & CSR
PT PLN Nusantara Power
Tel. +62 31 8283180
About PT PLN Nusantara Power
PT PLN Nusantara Power is a subholding of PT PLN (Persero), dedicated to serving the Indonesian nation and supporting national economic growth by providing high-quality, reliable, and environmentally friendly electricity. PLN Nusantara Power operates power plants across Indonesia with a total installed capacity of 18,573 MW. With a vision to become a leading and trusted power generation company for sustainable energy in Indonesia and the global market, PLN Nusantara Power is committed to achieving Net Zero Emissions through the development of more than 6.3 GW of renewable energy and by pioneering green power plants throughout Indonesia. The company continuously enhances its performance and innovation while upholding the principles of Good Corporate Governance (GCG).