4 geothermal fields transferred to local governments

The energy and mineral resources ministry has officially transferred the rights to operate and develop four geothermal fields with total capacity of 493 megawatt to local authorities in West Sumatra, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and West Java, Bisnis Indonesia reported Monday.

Director general of renewable energy and energy conservation Luluk Sumiarso said in Jakarta last week that the local governments would decide when the geothermal fields would be tendered.

?The tender for the geothermal fields will be held depending on their readiness,? he said.

According to the law No. 27/2003 on geothermal law, the right to issue a permit for the development of geothermal is given to a regency administration, if the field is located within its territory, to a provincial administration if it occupies two regencies? territories or more, and to the central government if it occupies two provinces or more.

Luluk said tha four geothermal fields including WKP Bonjol, with a capacity of 200 megawatt, WKP Mataloko with a capacity of 63 megawatt, WKP Gunung Endut with a capacity to80 megawatt and WKP Ciremai with a capacity of 150 megawatt.

He said that the WKP Bonjol would be transferred to Pasaman regency in West Sumatra, WKP Mataloka to Ngada regency in NTT, WKP Gunung Endut to Lebak regency in West Sumatra and WKP Gunung Ciremai to West Java. (*)