Banda Baru geothermal survey tender fails to attract bidders
Monday, December 15 2025 - 07:45 AM WIB
By Romel Gurky
A source at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has confirmed that the recent tender for the Preliminary Survey and Exploration Assignment Area (WPSPE, Wilayah Penugasan Survei Pendahuluan dan Eksplorasi) Banda Baru project failed to attract any bidders.
“The registration period has closed, and we did not receive any applications to act as the WPSPE executor,” a senior ministry official told Petromindo.com on Friday.
The government opened the tender for the WPSPE Banda Baru Sepa block from Oct. 31 to Dec. 1, 2025.
The Banda Baru Sepa block, located on Seram Island in Maluku Province, covers an area of 1,989 hectares.
Read also : Govt postpones Banda Baru Sepa geothermal tender
According to a study by the Geological Agency, the geothermal field has an estimated potential of 30 MW, with reservoir temperatures ranging from 170 degrees Celsius to 230 degrees Celsius.
An industry insider told Petromindo.com that the field had been designated as a top priority by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
“This field is in Pak Bahlil’s hometown, which is why the commercial operation date is being pushed to before 2029, ahead of the end of his term,” the source said, referring to Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak