Solar-powered cold storage and ice-maker installed on Pulau Longos

Labuan Bajo — A solar-powered cold-storage facility has been installed on Pulau Longos, a remote island in Manggarai Barat, as part of a programme to support local fishers through hybrid solar energy infrastructure, according to Insan Bumi Mandiri and a local Nusa Tenggara Barat news outlet.

The initiative combines cold storage units and an ice maker with a hybrid solar power system, aiming to help fishers preserve catch quality and improve the value of marine products. Insan Bumi Mandiri describes the project under the headline “Cold Storage Bertenaga Surya Hadir di Pulau Longos Perkuat Ekonomi Nelayan,” presenting it as a coastal economic empowerment effort.

Facility and collaboration

According to Media NTB, the Pulau Longos facility was delivered through a collaboration between PT Paragon Technology and Innovation and Yayasan Insan Bumi Mandiri. The outlet reports that fishers on Pulau Longos now have one ice-maker unit and two cold-storage units operating with support from a hybrid solar power plant.

Media NTB characterises Pulau Longos as an outer island north of Flores in Manggarai Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, and notes that the cold storage and ice-maker are intended to help fishers extend the freshness of their catch and reduce losses. Insan Bumi Mandiri’s blog places the Pulau Longos cold-storage item among its programme updates on coastal economic development, though the full article text is not accessible from the general blog listing.

Purpose and expected benefits

Both Insan Bumi Mandiri and Media NTB present the facility as part of efforts to strengthen the local fishing economy on Pulau Longos. Media NTB reports that the system uses hybrid solar power so the cold storage and ice-maker can continue operating with renewable energy support instead of relying entirely on conventional grid electricity.

Media NTB further notes that the programme includes mentoring and planned training for fishers on operating and making effective use of the cold-storage and ice-maker units. This training component is framed as a next phase intended to ensure the equipment is used optimally to support livelihoods.

Unspecified technical and economic details

Neither the Media NTB report nor the accessible Insan Bumi Mandiri blog listing provides technical specifications for the Pulau Longos installation. Key parameters such as the storage capacity of each cold-storage unit, battery characteristics, refrigeration technology and backup arrangements are not disclosed.

The available sources also do not state the commissioning date of the facility beyond placing the news in late July and early August 2026, nor do they identify the precise site on Pulau Longos where the equipment is installed. Information on ownership structure, day-to-day management, user fees, and operating costs is likewise absent from the published material.

While Media NTB describes the programme as supporting the local economy and reducing losses, it does not quantify impacts on spoilage rates, household incomes, catch volumes or access to buyers. Insan Bumi Mandiri’s blog listing associates the Pulau Longos cold storage with coastal economic empowerment but does not provide measurable outcome data.

Wider context

Insan Bumi Mandiri has previously highlighted similar solar-powered cold-storage initiatives in other coastal communities, including programmes in Golo Mori, Manggarai Barat, that combine solar cold storage with support for processed seafood businesses and market access. Separate reporting by Medcom and Insan Bumi Mandiri points to related hybrid solar cold-storage installations in Tanjung Boleng, also in Manggarai Barat, where multiple units of cold storage and other fishing equipment have been provided to local fishers.

These parallel projects indicate a broader strategy of using solar-powered cold storage and associated training to reduce post-harvest losses and improve the economic resilience of small-scale fishers in eastern Indonesia, with Pulau Longos among the latest locations to receive such infrastructure.

Sources

• Media NTB
• Insan Bumi Mandiri – Golo Mori programme article
• Medcom