Orangutans that awaited by people in Batang Toru

Batang Toru hydropower plant that located in the Batangtoru River in the area of Sipirok and Marancar Village, was built in the Area of Other Use (APL), and not in the forest area. To build this project, PT North Sumatra Hydro Energy (NSHE) obtained a location permit of 6,598 hectares intended for exploration, surveying, and planning of dams, power houses, and others.

At least 669 hectares of the land were purchased from people in the area. According to PT NSHE, 650 hectares are necessary to open roads.

In the end of the construction period, most of the land will be used as green open space. The land that will be a permanent building structure is estimated to be 122 hectares, and 100 hectares of supporting facilities.

Senior Advisor on Environment and Sustainability PT NSHE Agus Djoko Ismanto explained that Batang Toru hydropower plant has taken mitigation actions against potential impacts that might arise due to the construction of the project. Environmental, Social, and Impact Assessment (ESIA) is one of the studies that becomes a reference for the hydropower plant to do conservation of natural resources (biodiversity action plan).

Mitigation measures have been initiated since before land clearing was carried out to ensure that no orangutans will be injured or isolated. The result is zero accident. All mitigation actions of the Batangtoru Hydroelectric Power Plant are carried out with the coordination and supervision of the North Sumatra BBKSDA, and cooperation with local NGOs is carried out.

“Animals must be protected so that no one is injured during the construction of the Batang Toru hydropower plant,” said Agus.