Five firms compete for Gunung Lawu geothermal area

Five companies are competing in a tender for the Gunung Lawu geothermal working area with electricity generation potential of 165 MW, Bisnis Indonesia reported on Thursday.

The paper quoted Director for Geothermal at the Directorate General of New and Renewable Energy, Yunus Saifulhak as saying that the five firms have registered to participate in the tender, and deposited the required Rp 2 billion guarantee funds, requested to help ensure the financing capability of the bidders.

The five bidders include PT Pertamina Geothermal Energi, Star Energy Geothermal Ltd, PT Ormat, PT Sari Prima Energi, and PT Bumi Energy.

Yunus said that the prequalification document is expected to be submitted December 8, and that evaluation and announcement of the winning bidder in the fourth week of December.

The more than 60,000-ha Gunung Lawu geothermal area spans a number of regencies in the provinces of Central and East Java. (*)