Gempacs - Pandu Laut Nusantara

Investing in Impact

P4G has awarded the partnership with about US $365,570 in grant funding. 

The Gempacs - Pandu Laut Nusantara (PLN) partnership seeks to significantly reduce emissions from fishing boats through a comprehensive marine electrification solution. 

In Indonesia, the current state of marine mobility is characterized by traditional, fuel-dependent fishing boats, contributing to environmental degradation. Existing solutions often focus on technology alone, overlooking the intricate web of regulatory, societal and economic factors affecting the sector. 

Gempacs’s innovative climate business solution addresses these challenges comprehensively by not only offering traditional fishing boats cleaner, more sustainable alternative but also actively engaging key stakeholders, including local cooperatives and policymakers, to ensure that the transition to electric mobility is tailored to Indonesia's unique context, enhancing community engagement, support and socioeconomic conditions. 

This multifaceted approach includes retrofitting new and existing boats with advanced motors, photovoltaic (PV) roofs, batteries, electronics and geo-localization systems for enhanced safety and emission tracking. The partnership will also provide port charging infrastructure, facilitate access to third-party grants or loans for boat owners and offer species-specific nets and environmental education. 

This project provides many benefits to the local community and economy. Boat operators benefit from reduced fuel costs, boosting their income by over 50% from day one and more than 150% after loan repayment. Additionally, electric boats enhance working environments, reducing noise and harmful emissions, improving safety by tracking boat locations in real-time and ensuring the boats maintain their range and autonomy. 

To date, Gempacs has 10 working electric boat prototypes and installed 1 charging station and several wall chargers. It has also sold electric boats to notable organizations, such as a UNESCO reserve, and been declared a project of national strategic importance by PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara, Indonesia’s government-owned electric power corporation. 

PLN has focused on supporting small-scale fishermen by simplifying access to critical government services. The nonprofit developed a user-friendly guide to help fishermen apply for KUSUKA cards (Fishermen’s ID) and BPJS healthcare insurance. These documents are essential for accessing state support and health benefits. In partnership with village leaders and Pangandaran’s Department of Marine Affairs, Fisheries and Food Security (DKPKP), PLN began batch processing applications and initiated dialogue with BPJS officials to streamline enrollment for electric boat users. 

The partnership conducted community outreach across five districts in Pangandaran, engaging 98 fishermen through surveys and informal discussions. These activities introduced the electric boat program to fishermen unfamiliar with electric boats and gathered key insights into their economic realities. PLN distributed educational leaflets and held one-on-one conversations to build understanding around sustainable fishing practices, the benefits of electric boats and collective action. This initial outreach helped establish trust, spark peer-led learning groups and inform future financing strategies for the program. 

In December 2024, the partnership hosted the “Women of the Sea III” workshop, empowering 40 coastal women with skills to launch their own businesses. Participants explored value-added uses of local resources such as seaweed and honje (torch ginger), and gained hands-on experience in processing, packaging and branding. The workshop encouraged collaboration and sparked discussions around forming cooperatives to scale sustainable business initiatives, positioning women as key economic actors in their communities. 

In April 2025, the partnership officially launched the Blue Tech Indonesia program at the Pangandaran Airshow co-hosted with Susi Air and Susi Group. The event brought together government leaders, private sector partners and international stakeholders and spotlighted how the program aims to accelerate the decarbonization of small-scale fisheries by introducing 100% electric boat systems to coastal communities. During the ceremony, Gempacs symbolically handed over five electric boat engines to PLN. Each engine is part of a comprehensive support package for traditional fishermen, including a fiber-reinforced boat, sustainable fishnets and a solar-powered charging station. 

During the partnership period, Gempacs aims to raise US $3 million in seed funding and hopes to expand into the Vietnamese and Southeast Asian markets, with potential opportunities in Africa. PT Octagon Precision Indonesia, Gempacs’ strategic and operating partner, will provide expertise, trained resources and engineers, and facilities in Batam (Riau Islands), to facilitate import of technology via Singapore, when necessary, and assist with Gempacs’ technical delivery. 

PLN will also seek to actively promote gender equality and women's empowerment through various initiatives. These include providing training and opportunities for women entrepreneurs in coastal communities, facilitating access to resources and support services in financial literacy, leadership and entrepreneurship, and ensuring their meaningful participation in decision-making processes. 

The partnership comprises the following partners: Gempacs (lead business partner); Pandu Laut Nusantara (lead administrative partner); PT Octagon Precision Indonesia (strategic and operating partner).