Igniting New Hope: Batang Fisheries and Marine Office Collaborates with Batang Power Plant to Strengthen the Capacity of East Roban Fishermen

Bhimasena Power, Batang Power Plant — The Batang Fisheries and Marine Office (DKP Batang) has partnered with PT Bhimasena Power Indonesia, the owner and operator of the Batang Power Plant (PLTU Batang), to enhance fishermen’s skills through a training program titled “Maintenance and Repair of Single-Cylinder Diesel Engines.” The training, attended by 20 fishermen from East Roban and 10 fisheries extension officers, took place from **October 13–15, 2025, at the Pramuka Hall.

During the opening ceremony, Batang Deputy Regent Suyono warmly welcomed and appreciated the collaboration between DKP Batang and the Batang Power Plant in building the fishermen’s capacity.

“Improving fishermen’s capacity not only increases productivity but also strengthens the economic resilience of coastal communities. I hope initiatives like this can continue sustainably. As the local government, we hope that our people especially fishermen can gain greater skills and expertise to improve their livelihoods, and that this knowledge can be passed down from generation to generation,” said Suyono.

In his remarks, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of PT Bhimasena Power Indonesia, represented by CSR & Community Relation Manager Ahmad Lukman, emphasized that this activity reflects BPI’s commitment to growing together with the local community, particularly in coastal areas.

“Through this training, we aim to ignite new hope. We believe that the East Roban fishing community has incredible spirit, and we want to support that spirit with the right skills. This training isn’t just about engines, it’s about independence and the future. We hope participants will become more self-reliant, able to maintain and repair their own boat engines, and ultimately improve their families’ welfare,” said **Naofumi Yasuda.

One of the participants, Sri Yono, a fisherman from East Roban Hamlet, expressed his gratitude and enthusiasm for joining the training, as well as his appreciation for the concern shown by the Batang Regency Government and PT Bhimasena Power Indonesia toward the East Roban fishing community.

“At first, I didn’t know anything about maintaining or repairing engines. I’m very grateful for this training and hope the knowledge I’ve gained will be truly useful,” said Sri Yono.

Similarly, Rusmanto, another fisherman from East Roban, shared his appreciation for the training.

“On behalf of the fishermen, I feel very helped by this program—it’s a valuable provision for our future. After this training, I now know the basics of maintaining and repairing engines independently. The knowledge is very beneficial not only for me but also for helping other fishermen if their boat engines are damaged,” said Rusmanto.