Darmawan Prasodjo, President Director of State power utility PT PLN, has been named CEO of the Year for the third consecutive time at the CNBC Indonesia Awards 2024 presentation ceremony held on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.
The prestigious award recognizes his leadership in transforming PLN and his role in driving the development of renewable energy in Indonesia.
Under his leadership, PLN has made significant strides in the country’s energy transition and is now seen as an inspirational figure for Indonesia’s energy future.
In addition to Darmawan, PLN was also honored with the Best Company in National Energy Security award.
This recognition is a testament to PLN’s success in supporting the government’s efforts to ensure national energy security, a critical part of Indonesia’s long-term development plans.
SOEs transformation
Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), Erick Thohir, who received the Game Changer in SOEs Business & Transformation Award, emphasized that the transformation of state-owned enterprises would continue under professional management to foster economic growth.
He added that SOEs ministry plays a central role in creating equitable economic growth, which aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s vision for a thriving, advanced Indonesia.
“We in SOEs ministry ensure that economic equality must succeed, so Indonesia can become a developed nation. This aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s vision to drive economic growth,” Erick said after the Award presentation ceremony.
PLN’s commitment
Darmawan expressed his gratitude for the recognition, stating that the awards would inspire PLN to continue innovating and prioritizing sustainability in its business operations.
“These awards give us renewed energy to innovate and continue running a business that is focused on sustainability. This achievement is the result of the government’s support in creating a conducive environment for our growth, and the hard work of everyone at PLN,” Darmawan said, on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.
He also reiterated PLN’s commitment to supporting the government’s goal of achieving 8 percent economic growth, while prioritizing the development of renewable energy as part of the global energy future.
“Energy transition is not only about reducing emissions but also about balancing growth and environmental sustainability. We will achieve clean and affordable energy while supporting economic growth through energy independence,” Darmawan said.
To support the country’s economic growth, PLN is determined to increase the capacity of renewable energy power plants to 75 percent of the total 100 gigawatts (GW) planned by 2040.
“We have prepared a roadmap and are expanding our collaborations. By 2040, of the 100 GW of power plants to be built, around 75 GW will come from renewable energy, 5 GW from nuclear, and the remainder from gas,” Darmawan said.
Over the past four years, PLN has undergone a transformation, focusing on innovation, efficiency, and digitalizing business processes end-to-end.
The company has built a more reliable and secure electrical grid system, shifting from a “backward-looking” approach to a “forward-looking” one.
This transformation has also strengthened PLN’s financial sustainability and made its services more responsive, customer-centric, and equitable.
Moreover, PLN’s resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic further highlights the success of this transformation. Despite a decline in electricity sales, PLN achieved its best financial performance in three years.
“During the difficult COVID period, we managed to post our best financial results in PLN’s history for three consecutive years,” he noted.
Through these awards, Darmawan reaffirmed PLN’s commitment to continuing its support of the government’s energy transition agenda.
He also emphasized that PLN’s role has evolved from merely providing electricity to now providing clean, affordable energy that drives economic growth, creates jobs, reduces poverty, and ensures environmental sustainability.
“PLN’s mission is no longer just to provide electricity; we are now focused on providing clean, affordable energy that drives economic growth, creates jobs, and fights poverty, all while preserving the environment,” Darmawan concluded.
