Tanah Merah Hamlet is one of the remote hamlets on the Slopes of Mount Argopuro that has not yet enjoyed electricity from PLN. This sub-village is included in the ​​Batur Village, Gading District, Probolinggo Regency area. To get there, you have to go on a 4-wheeled through a narrow road which still not paved yet, dirt road and macadam, then proceed with a 2-wheeled vehicle for approximately 3 km.

Realizing this, the Universits Brawijaya (UB) Doktor Mengabdi (DM) team, devoted to this remote village. Headed by Dr. Runi Asmaranto, ST., MT (FT), the team consists of Dr.Eng Dhenny Widhiyanuriyawan (FT), Dr. Sugiarto, ST., MT (FT), and Mangku Purnomo, PhD (FP).

Various ongoing programs are implemented. This year, the DM Team is carrying out activities to increase the capacity of the Micro Hydro generator by repairing carrier channels with innovative combinations of installation of gabion construction. Combined used sacks of rice beside the gabion it hold the seepage through gaps in the gabion.

“We construct the carrier channel with a length of about 30 m to keep the carrier channel still flowing inflow discharge into the rapid pipe/penstock PLTMH (Micro Hydro Power Plant) both when there is a flood in the main river or during the dry season,” explained Dr. Runi.

On this DM activity, in addition to empowering energy through repairing the carrier channel, also repairing the electricity network through repairing the main cable (for about 100 m), repairing street lighting, assistance carpentry tools such as electric grinding tools, planer machine for carpentry, all of which utilize micro-hydro energy (Pokmas PLTMH) that is not utilized at the afternoon. It is hoped that this activity can improve the economics of community members of the Tanah Merah micro-hydro management community.

“In addition to the aforementioned tools, 1 unit of chopper machine was also handed over for compost counting with the capacity of 150 kilograms per hour, along with a diesel engine powered by 8 HP to assist cattle ranchers who are members of the Pokmas PLTMH in mixing animal feed,” Runi added.

According to him, Tanah Merah Hamlet is a remote hamlet on the slopes of Mount Argopuro and service activities should be carried out here, because not all residents can enjoy electricity from PLN.

“We hope that the DM program here will make the community grow and prosper. It gets brighter at night, and can carry out learning activities and study the Maghrib,” said Runi.

In line with Runi, The Head of the Community Group (Pokmas) managing the PLTMH, Aan Sugiantoro, said, with the help of the DM program, in the dry season the discharge inflow increase by 10 percent, compared to the previous dry season.

“So that we can still feel the electrical energy which is able to produce 6 kilo watts of power that is utilized by residents,” explained Aan.

In the future, even if PLN electricity reach the area he hope that PLTMH Pokmas still continue to be developed. Because PLTMH electrical energy, can still be used to improve the economy of citizens through carpentry or processing of agricultural and livestock products based on energy independence, such as micro hydro and biogas.

“The other positive side is that if there is PLTMH upstream in the river, the community realizes that micro electricity the hydro produced needs river continuity continuity, so that they will not cut wood upstream which will reduce the discharge in the dry season. Even lava floods in the rainy season,” added Aan.

Meanwhile, Dr. Sugiarto said that using BUMDES that has been formed in the village of Batur, can be optimized and managed independently in processing several superior products of Tanah Merah, such as palm sugar, coffee, bananas, organic fertilizer development, and others. Means it can be beneficial for the community.

“In addition, training is needed to make animal food, so that animal husbandry activities, especially cattle fattening also increase, and increase the expertise of farmers in the village of Batur, combined with community empowerment funded by ADD or CSR,” said Sugiarto.

The team also carried out mentoring through the house renovations at Mishur’s house in RT08 / RW04, one of the members of the Tanah Merah PLTMH Pokmas.