What was announced
Jembrana regency officials in western Bali are considering turning 89 ha of unused shrimp ponds in Budeng village into a site for a solar power plant, known as PLTS. NusaBali reported the plan. It was voiced on 10 October 2026 during the Tumpek Wayang observance at Pura Kembar temple in Budeng.
The speech of Jembrana Regent I Made Kembang Hartawan was read out by Regency Secretary I Made Budiasa. He called the idle ponds an opportunity for renewable energy, and immediately added that the plan is not yet confirmed.
Land status
Of the 89 ha, 20 ha are listed as property of the Bali Provincial Government. The other 69 ha hold SHM status (Sertifikat Hak Milik, freehold title). That means a large share of the site belongs to private owners, and the project cannot move without them.
Budiasa asked the relevant agencies to coordinate with the provincial government, the state power utility PLN and other authorities. They need to confirm the boundaries of government assets, the status of control over the land and whether third parties hold any right to use it.
What still has to be checked
The regency secretary listed what must be clarified before a decision: land documents, fit with the spatial plan, the physical condition of the former ponds, water channels, environmental impact and business feasibility. In his words, construction choices cannot be set only on the basis of how much land is available.
Plant capacity, technology, financing, grid connection and electricity purchase terms are not yet defined. They depend on study results and approval by the competent authorities.
Resident input and caution on promises
Residents are asked not just to listen but to report how the land is really used: where water collects, how channels run and who earns a living from these ponds. Concerns and objections can be raised at meetings or through official channels. All input must be recorded, reviewed and answered.
The discussion is meant to include pond workers, women's groups, vulnerable residents and representatives of the adat village community. The officials also warned against promising a number of jobs, free electricity or a revenue share before there is a basis and an agreement.
What the report does not say
The report gives no plant capacity, no investor or operator, no project cost and no timeline. It also does not say how the private plots would be handled, whether by lease, purchase or another scheme. These details have not been disclosed.
So this is an idea at the stage of public consultation and study. Any next step depends on the results of the checks and approvals.