Panasonic, in cooperation with the Institute of Business and Economic Democracy Foundation (IBEKA) and Kopernik, donates 1,020 solar lanterns to those living in areas with limited electricity in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province - Sumba island and North Central Timor (TTU) district. Today's donation marks the second of such efforts. In March 2014, Panasonic distributed 1,000 solar lanterns to people in Sabu and Sumba islands. These donations fall under the company's global 100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project which aims to provide 100,000 solar lanterns to address societal challenges in developing areas with limited electrical infrastructure, by 2018, Panasonic's 100th anniversary.

Sumba island and North Central Timor (TTU) district were selected as these areas still experience insufficient and unstable power supply. The solar lantern functions as an off-grid energy solution which doubles up as a light and power source at night, with the added capability to charge small electronic devices such as mobile phones, via a USB port. Through the use of renewable energy, the solar lantern contributes to a reduction in carbon dioxide emission. Currently, many are reliant on kerosene lamps for light.

Handover in North Central timor

Ichiro Suganuma, Chief Representative of Panasonic in Indonesia said, "The Panasonic global 100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project has received positive response from the Indonesian society, particularly those who have benefitted from these solar lanterns to support their daily lives. The lantern is an environmentally-friendly lighting source that seeks to bring light to those living with limited electricity, and enables them to have better access to education, healthcare and security. I hope the solar lanterns will continue to overcome social issues in order to create a better life, a better world for Indonesians."

The remaining 310 solar lanterns will be donated to North Central Timor via Kopernik. 200 of these lanterns will be given out to 50 clinics in order to facilitate healthcare access for locals. Indonesia also has the honour to receive 110 specially designed solar lantern covers designs gathered from people around the world as part of Panasonic's "Cut Out the Darkness" programme. These lanterns will be distributed to Sone Village, North Central Timor.

Children studying under the light of solar lantern

Through IBEKA, 710 solar lanterns will be donated to those living in Sumba island. 10 of the lanterns were from Gamba Osaka, a Japanese football club sponsored by Panasonic. The official handover ceremony was conducted at the beginning of Panasonic Cup 2015 Friendly Match between Gamba Osaka and Persija Jakarta football club, on 24 January 2015, at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium Jakarta.

Handover ceremony, Mr. Laksono(IBEKA) and Mr. Myojin(Gamba Osaka)