Pelita Asa is a documentary that tells the story of how the energy transition has changed lives in East Kalimantan, capturing the experiences of three villages with distinct stories and impacts.

Following its launch in Jakarta on 11 May 2026, the project Clean, Affordable and Secure Energy (CASE) for Southeast Asia, in collaboration with the Subnational Energy Transition and Communications & Outreach teams of the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR), hosted a roadshow to advocate for a just energy transition across various cities in Indonesia.

The first stop of the roadshow brought the film back to its original home, East Kalimantan. On 25 May 2026, the first leg of the roadshow was held at Mulawarman University, engaging students from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences. Representatives from Muara Enggelam Village and Sungai Payang Village shared their hopes, experiences, and challenges as they navigated the energy transition within their communities.

The Head of Muara Enggelam Village, Madi, shared with the students how life in the village has changed significantly since the community received solar panels in 2014. Previously, residents relied on small diesel generators that provided electricity for only six hours a day. Today, a fully functioning solar power system meets the community’s electricity needs 24 hours a day.

As their sole source of electricity, the community, led by the village head, learned how to maintain and repair the solar panels themselves, ensuring continued access to reliable electricity. What began as access to lighting in the evenings has expanded to support household appliances such as freezers, refrigerators, and washing machines. Although the village is located in a remote area, the community remains eager to move forward by learning about new technologies that can further improve local livelihoods.

Firman, Head of Petani Milenial Karya Muda (Millennial Farmers), shared a heartfelt message with the students. He expressed his hope that, as future leaders of Indonesia, they will pay greater attention to and provide more support for local farmers, particularly younger generations.

As a young farmer himself, Firman often learns about agricultural skills and technologies from other countries, including China and Japan, through online resources. He also hopes to gain further knowledge through capacity-building opportunities and access to technologies that can support farming activities, such as solar-powered water pumps.

On the second day (26/05), the CASE team hosted a discussion and movie screening with local communities and journalists from Samarinda and Balikpapan. The session explored how energy transition narratives are perceived within local communities, as well as potential collaboration opportunities to spark more forums on energy transition in East Kalimantan.

During the screening, several participants shared their reflections on the stories portrayed in the film. One journalist expressed that she was deeply moved by the film, as it closely reflected the reality of the area where she lives. She further noted her hope that future films could explore the more complex layers of the energy transition in greater depth.

Three participants from local communities shared that the film reflected only a portion of the energy transition journey in East Kalimantan, highlighting the significant role of women in the process and the multiple layers of complexity involved. They also agreed that more creative and audio-visual content is needed to raise awareness about the energy transition among both local communities and the wider public.

The discussions in East Kalimantan highlighted the importance of continuing to create spaces where local voices can be heard and shared. From students to community members and journalists, participants collectively emphasised that the energy transition is not only about technology, but also about people, lived experiences, and collaboration.

As Pelita Asa returns to the communities that inspired it, the roadshow reinforces the value of storytelling in connecting different perspectives and deepening understanding of a just energy transition.

The journey does not end here. It continues through ongoing dialogue, collaboration, and the shared commitment to building a more inclusive and sustainable energy future for East Kalimantan and beyond.