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Government to develop $4.3b geothermal plants
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo speaks to journalists on the sidelines of the inauguration of three geothermal power plant (PLTP) infrastructure projects worth Rp 6.18 trillion (US$532.07 million) belonging to state oil and gas firm Pertamina in Manado, North Sulawesi, on Dec. 27. (JP/Lita Aruperes)
T
he government plans this year to start the process of developing 12 geothermal power plants with a total capacity of 865 megawatts (MW) and combined investment value of around US$4.3 billion as part of its efforts to make Indonesia the world’s top geothermal electricity producer.
At present, Indonesia operates geothermal power plants with a total capacity of 1,698.5 MW and aims to increase it to 1,858.5 MW before year-end through the completion of three other facilities, namely the Sarulla Unit II plant (110 MW) and Sorik Merapi Modular Unit I plant (20 MW) in North Sumatra, and the Karaha Bodas plant (30 MW) in West Java.
In the long run, it aims to operate 7,200 MW geothermal power plants by 2025, or 3.8 percent of the total targeted 23 percent share of the national energy mix from renewable sources.
“We have planned some breakthroughs in order to meet that target, including by giving direct assignments to state-owned enterprises and holding an open tender for the projects,” Rida Mulyana, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry’s new and renewable energy director general, said last week.
The government will offer five geothermal working areas located mostly in the country’s eastern part through the open auction, expected to be held before the end of June.
The five areas are: Bora Pulu in Central Sulawesi, Oka-Ile Ange and Sirung in East Nusa Tenggara, Jailolo in North Maluku and Simbolon Samosir in North Sumatra.
The total capacity of these working areas is projected to reach at least 330 MW, with Sirung generating the lowest capacity of 10 MW, and Simbolon Samosir boasting the highest at 220 MW.
