Latest news with #Sumba
SBS Australia
6 days ago
- Business
- SBS Australia
Independent Electricity with Micro Hydro Power Plant
Residents of Kamanggi village in Sumba, NTT solved the problem of lack of electricity from the country by establishing a Micro Hydro Power Plant (PLTMH) that utilizes the river flowing in the village. Umbu Hinggu Panjanji is a member of the Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) of East Sumba district, as well as the chairman of the cooperative that manages the PLTMH in Kamanggih village in the district. The PLTMH was chosen, as Kamangjik village has the potential of rivers flowing all year round, as a source of generating power such as the Mbapungawu River in that village. In addition, from the beginning it must be ensured that there is an organization that manages the PLTMH. The effort is supported by Hivos, a Community Self-Help Institution (NGO) with a global vision that has its headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands. In addition, an institution in Bandung called IBEKA (Business and Economic Initiative of Population) also plays a role. In its official description, IBEKA is a social business entity that relies on diligence. Blending technology adapted to social awareness, to empower rural communities and marginal groups in urban areas. IBEKA believes that electricity is the backbone of economic development. IBEKA uses renewable energy as an entryway to empower target groups and create added value on the potential of local resources. Umbu Hinggu Panjanji Credit: Umbu Hinggu Panjanji However, not all electricity shortage problems have to be solved with PLTMH. In areas that do not have sufficient river flow potensin, this solution does not apply. There are many villages developed by the PLTMH by the government, but after a few years it is no longer operational due to various reasons. It could be due to an insurmountable malfunction of the machine, or even there is no organization of villagers to manage it in a dignified manner. In the beginning it was also necessary to train local residents, one of which was to set up the operator of the plant itself. There are no special requirements for an operator of this small power plant emphatically Umbu. Micro hydro power plant that utilises river flow for electricity independence in rural Sumba, NTT. Credit: Umbu Hinggu Panjanji The key to successful management is transparency in calculating its operational costs, including the required components. Currently, one PLTMH in Kamanggih already serves over 200 heads of families. The other power plant, which is rather large, is already capable of serving 300 homes and will continue to grow to 400 homes this year. From this contribution fund, Kamangghi PLTMH can cover all operational costs, including if there is an engine failure. The challenge is to make people aware that the dues they pay are an important factor in the sustainability of PLTMH. Generator machine equipment at the PLTMH in Kamanggih village, East Sumba. Credit: Umbu Hinggu Panjanji Many regions have the potential as well as challenges to cope with electricity needs independently. Umbu, who is also a member of parliament in East Sumba, gave an example, that regions should actually have the courage to adopt policies to fund villages that do not have electricity. Listen to SBS Indonesian every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 3pm. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram , and don't miss our podcasts .
Globe and Mail
30-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Arya Properties Sets a New Standard for World-Class Villas & Resorts, Transforming Property Investment in Eastern Indonesia
Arya Properties may still be a new name for many, but this Bali-based developer is quickly emerging as one of the most dynamic forces in property and resort development across Eastern Indonesia. With standout projects in Sumba, Lombok, Sumbawa, and Bali, Arya Properties combines breathtaking tropical locations with elegant design, professional full-service management, and transparent, foreign-friendly legal structures — establishing a new benchmark for property investment in Indonesia. From Europe to Indonesia: The Vision of Its Founder Arya Properties was founded by Petr Hemerka, a Czech entrepreneur born in 1992, whose early business ventures ranged from large-scale printing companies to e-commerce brands and short-term rental operations across Europe. 'For me, building property isn't just about chasing market trends or quick profits,' said Hemerka. 'We want to create something timeless — places where people can experience true beauty, peace, and quality of life. Our goal is that these projects remain relevant and a source of pride even 30 years from now.' Hemerka's journey into Asia began in 2019. After extensive exploration, he chose Indonesia as the base for his long-term vision. Drawn by Sumba's untouched landscapes and strong local culture, Arya Properties was born — built on the idea of responsible, meaningful development. Ambitious Expansion: From Sumba to Bali Today, Arya Properties stands as a testament to bold, well-managed growth: - Over 600 villas under construction or already operating,- USD 121 million in active project value,- A team of 820+ employees spanning development and hospitality,- With flagship projects in sought-after destinations like Sumba, Lombok, Sumbawa, and Bali. One of its most notable achievements is Arya Sumba Kodi Resort, constructed in just 14 months in a remote corner of Sumba — a logistical feat by any standard. Since its soft opening in June 2025, it has already achieved over 90% occupancy during peak season,even as further development phases continue. Smart Investments with Clear Legal Pathways Arya Properties offers diverse investment opportunities: from fully managed apartments in Seminyak designed for passive income, to exclusive beachfront villas in Sumbawa perfect for those seeking tranquility. Yet the common thread across all projects is the same: long-term leaseholds up to 80 years, transparent ownership structures for foreign investors, and turnkey management services that simplify the entire process. 'We often pick locations that aren't yet crowded on the investor map,' Hemerka explained. 'Because that's where we see real potential — untouched nature, welcoming communities, and room to build something truly meaningful.' A Hands-On Leader with a Disciplined Approach Unlike many large developers whose founders fade into the background, Hemerka remains actively involved in every aspect — from site inspections to marketing strategy meetings and direct communication with investors. Arya Properties maintains a disciplined, structured culture with high standards of personal responsibility, extending from no-smoking policies on site to a strong emphasis on self-management. Looking Ahead: From Villas to Vibrant Experiences Arya Properties plans stretch well beyond villas and resorts. Upcoming projects include beach clubs, farm-to-table restaurants, and cultural hubs that elevate Sumba's traditional craftsmanship to global audiences. Throughout this expansion, the company's mission stays clear: build thoughtfully, lead with integrity, and create experiences that enrich investors, guests, and local communities alike. 'I'm not driven by being the biggest developer,' Hemerka concluded. 'What matters is building responsibly, honoring our promises to investors, and leaving a positive mark on the communities we're part of. For us, success is measured not just by ROI, but by long-term reputation and meaningful impact.' About Arya Properties Arya Properties is a property developer based in Bali, Indonesia, specializing in premium villas and resort projects across top-tier destinations. With a complete in-house team of experts in marketing, sales, architecture, and legal, Arya ensures that every step — from planning to handover — is managed professionally and transparently. Driven by a long-term vision, Arya Properties is committed to delivering secure, high-quality investments for buyers, while positively impacting local communities. Media Contact Company Name: Arya Properties Contact Person: Sagita Fahrina (Head of Marketing) Email: Send Email Phone: +62 811 3831 0202 Country: Indonesia Website:
CNA
05-07-2025
- CNA
Sumba, an hour away from Bali, Indonesia is the perfect vacation spot to do absolutely nothing
After a motorbike ride down an empty road, my daughter and I found ourselves jumping off a high wooden platform into a deep lagoon with salt-white sand, healthy coral — and no one else around. As the Indian Ocean splashed, we swam, jumped again and laughed. We lost track of time. Maybe we were just lucky. The platform had to have been built by someone, for the fun of many. But it was neither the first nor last time that we felt practically alone in Sumba. Sumba, one of Indonesia's easternmost islands, is just an hour's flight from Bali. But Sumba is as quiet as Bali is thumping. There are no digital nomads, DJ parties or drones at sunset. The island is twice the size of Bali with one-fifth the population. The airport is a walk-across-the-tarmac affair with one baggage carousel and, on the 40-minute drive to our hotel, we saw maybe a dozen people. Whether Sumba can remain an anti-Bali is a question. It's just starting to reach a tipping point with enough hotel development and word-of-mouth buzz to draw more than just surf-crazy adventurers and celebrities with blank-check budgets. We heard about it from surfer friends in Sydney, and when we planned a trip two months before departure, most of the island's handful of hotels (ranging from US$180, or about S$230, per night, for a double at Sumba Beach House to US$1,300 for the award-winning Nihi Sumba) were booked. Some would argue that means go now. Others will tell you, as they told us, that Sumba can never be Bali for many reasons, from infrastructure to size and local culture, which requires a great deal of community trust-building and approvals before anything gets built. 'There's just not much here,' said Kiri Desborough, the wellness director at Cap Karoso, the hotel where we eventually ended up for a four-night stay, which is privately owned and still feels manageable and intimate. 'It's a very different place.' ROOM TO SPREAD OUT Having come from Bali, we immediately noticed a difference in the landscape. Geologically, Sumba is an Australian continental fragment that drifted north, which means no volcanoes or towering cliffs. It's mostly plains of grass and corn, which serve as animal feed. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cap Karoso Sumba (@cap_karoso) Space is part of the appeal, and like the other hotels spread across the island, Cap Karoso has made the most of it. The two-year-old property has 44 guest rooms and 20 villas on more than three acres of hilly land that rolls toward Karoso beach. None of the major hotel chains have set up shop on Sumba so Cap Karoso is as big as it gets. The owners are a French couple — Evguenia and Fabrice Ivara, a former luxury goods brand manager and a digital ad agency entrepreneur. Their aesthetic is minimalist, with modernist furniture and airy buildings, featuring plants on the rooftops and lemongrass bushes lining the walkways. We passed the hotel's organic farm on our way to the lobby. Upon arrival, David Garcia, the general manager, welcomed us and explained the hotel's ethos: 'There's a lot to do, or this can be the perfect place to do nothing.' After an around-the-world lunch at the beach club (poke bowl, pizza, bao buns and a club sandwich, for about US$50), my family — myself, my wife and our two teenage children — chose to be active. We went for a surf with the hotel's longboards, which were free to use. It was a bit of a paddle into smallish waves, but the water was crystal clear. The next day we embarked on a snorkelling trip that was included with our room rate. Our guides were chill — they brought spear guns and caught a red snapper for dinner — and there were only a few other boats on the water. Underwater, I've seen a wider array of fish in other places, but in a time of climate change and coral bleaching, the colours and health of the reefs brought a sense of deep relief. Then, after our lagoon adventure, we booked a half-day surf trip, which sent us with a guide around the southwestern tip of Sumba. We bounced down dirt roads through traditional villages with thatched roofs standing several stories high. Officially, Sumba is mostly Christian, but in the ancient animist religion of the island, ancestors or 'marapu' guide the living from above so the traditional homes (and some government buildings) reach for a connection. Waingapu, our destination, sat just beyond a river mouth and a village. There was no one else in the water. The waves were four to five feet, soft, clean and tons of fun for us intermediates — probably the best place we'd ever surfed together as a family. Our guide, Julianto, said he came to Sumba for exactly that kind of experience, after growing up in West Java and working in more crowded places. 'Bali has so many people,' he said. 'I love Sumba because Sumba is still nature.' Garcia told me that 90 per cent of the hotel staff is Sumbanese. Many of them were trained through a partnership with the Sumba Hospitality Foundation, a local nonprofit, and perhaps because tourism is still so new and seems to be delivering local benefits, the relationship of guest, staff and community felt warm and unjaded. Children from a nearby village swam at the edge of the hotel beach, waving, smiling and trying out a little English. When my daughter and I got lost on our way to the lagoon, locals pointed us in the right direction with a smile. A PLACE TO RELAX We managed to do a bit of nothing too. Sunsets by the main pool, which sits slightly higher than the villas, offered amazing views of sky, sea and a lighthouse in the distance. One night, my wife and I signed up for dinner at Julang, Cap Karoso's fine-dining option featuring guest chefs who serve guests at a single long table from an open kitchen. There were only six of us there for a meal from Robbie Noble, a British-raised chef based in Melbourne, Australia. His menu leaned into local seafood, offering chilled crab tea, grilled octopus (with tahini and shallots) and a steamed mahi mahi dish with morning glory, otherwise known as water spinach. We worked through it all with a pair of American expats living in Amsterdam and a British couple who told us about their courtship on a 30,000-mile motorcycle trip from Alaska to Patagonia. Luxury in remoteness can be costly: The prix fixe meal at Julang was around US$90 per person, without wine; doubles at Cap Karoso start at US$325, two-bedroom duplexes at US$750 and three-bedrooms can cost as much as US$4,000 per night. More reasonable options at smaller boutique hotels or homes are available, if you book early. At all of them, you're likely to be on site for most meals and activities since other development is sparse (though the kitchen staff did mention a karaoke bar near the airport). Sumba's balance at the moment, with nature, its staff and food offerings like freshly baked pastries every morning, feels extravagant and fragile. As always, the rich-visitor poor-local divide risks distorting the culture of a place that has persisted, largely unchanged, for hundreds if not thousands of years. At the lagoon, for example, a handful of vendors have set up stalls to sell local crafts and when we left, a few men and boys competed for who should be paid a small parking fee. But compared to Bali — or much of Thailand, or Fiji, or so many other places — Sumba still feels like a secret getaway, a place to clear the mind, enjoy the breezes and the sea, and most of all, avoid the crowds. 'We don't have the infrastructure for a Four Seasons,' said Desborough, who recently launched a seven-day wellness experience, with immersion into the nature, community and shamanic practices of the island. 'And to be honest, we're OK with that.'
New York Times
11-06-2025
- New York Times
Sumba Is Not Bali. That Is the Point.
After a motorbike ride down an empty road, my daughter and I found ourselves jumping off a high wooden platform into a deep lagoon with salt-white sand, healthy coral — and no one else around. As the Indian Ocean splashed, we swam, jumped again and laughed. We lost track of time. Maybe we were just lucky. The platform had to have been built by someone, for the fun of many. But it was neither the first nor last time that we felt practically alone in Sumba. Sumba, one of Indonesia's easternmost islands, is just an hour's flight from Bali. But Sumba is as quiet as Bali is thumping. There are no digital nomads, DJ parties or drones at sunset. The island is twice the size of Bali with one-fifth the population. The airport is a walk-across-the-tarmac affair with one baggage carousel and, on the 40-minute drive to our hotel, we saw maybe a dozen people. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
