Chevron returns geothermal working area in Ciremai
Friday, January 23 2015 - 02:41 PM WIB
PT Jasa Daya Chevron (JDC), a subsidiary of American energy giant Chevron Corporation, has returned to the governnent the Ciremai geothermal working area in West Java, where it initially planned to develop 2x55 MW geothermal power plant, according to a senior official at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.
?I was a little shocked yesterday after receiving the copy of a letter from Chevron saying it was returning the working area. Chevron argued that the temperature of (geothermal steam) in Ciremai is about 180-200 Celcius degrees, which is too low, meaning it lacks heat,? Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) Rida Mulyana said in Jakarta on Friday.
Rida explained that Chevron has yet to get an IUP permit from the West Java provincial government. Thus, they haven?t done anything there.
However, an industry source said the working area was returned because there is a rejection from communities around Ciremai.
Editing by Johannes Simbolon