Minister of Cooperatives, Ferry Juliantono, officially announced that the Merah Putih Village/Urban Community Cooperative (KDMP) will begin venturing into strategic sectors by operating a crude palm oil (CPO) plant and a Solar Power Plant (PLTS) starting in August 2026.
The inauguration of these new business units is scheduled to take place in two different regions. The CPO plant will operate in Musi Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra through the Koperasi Unit Desa Sejahtera, while the solar power plant project with a capacity of 0.5 to 1 Megawatt (MW) will be inaugurated in Sembur Laut, Galang Baru Island, Riau Islands.
This expansion is part of the government's effort to expand the operational scope of cooperatives so they can participate in large-scale industrial sectors. Ferry emphasized that under regulations currently being drafted, cooperatives will no longer engage solely in traditional sectors, but will also gain access to manage mines, minerals, and renewable energy.
The government aims to complete the revision of the Cooperatives Law this year to replace the old regulation, Law No. 25 of 1992. The new legal framework is expected to serve as a stronger foundation so that cooperatives return to being the main pillar of the national economy.
Ferry is optimistic that this initiative will have a significant impact on economic circulation at the village level. Together with the Indonesian Cooperative Council, his party is committed to continuing to encourage the active role of cooperatives in realizing a more inclusive and equitable economic vision across the country.
