Geothermal power set to reach 4,500 MW by 2015

The government is targeting the supply from geothermal power plants will reach 4,500 megawatt (MW) by 2015, the Director General of renewable energy and conservation, Kardaya Warnika said.

He said in Jakarta on Wednesday that in order to meet the target, the government would further auction new geothermal fields. ?Six fields will be auctioned by provincial governments, and the other one by the central government,? he added.

Kardaya said that new geothermal power plant PLTP Ulubelu in Lampung with a capacity of 2 x 55 megawatt would begin operation in July.

Meanwhile, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik said Indonesia did not have many choices but to build geothermal power plants to cut operating costs due to the rising fuel prices.

?With the operation of the new geothermal power plants, the energy subsidy is expected to decline from RP 97 trillion at present,? he added.

Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) President Director Slamet Riyadhi, said that after the operation of the Ulubulu units 1 and 2 in July, the Ulubelu units 3 and 4 would start operation in December.

The power supply from geothermal power plants increased by 37 MW to 1,226 MW from 1,189 MW following the operation of PLTP Lahendong unit 4, with a capacity of 20 MW, and the increase in the capacity of PLTP Darajad by 15 MW to 270 MW from 255 MW, and the increase in the capacity of PLTP Salak by 2 MW to 377 MW.

Editing by Benget Besalicto Tnb.