Government identifies 10 new geothermal working fields

The Geology Agency at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has idenfied 10 new geothermal working fields accross the country in the period of 2010-2011 that could be offered to investors.

Agency head R. Sukhyar said in his presentation in the Indo Geothermal 2011 in Jakarta on Tuesday the new working fields have the potency to generate a total of 1,860 MW of power.

He said his office complied with the ministerial regulation No. 11/2008 in determining the working fields. The decree stipulates among others that an area can be determined as a a geothermal working field after a preliminary data about reservoir there has been acquired and it is not located in forbidden zones, such as conservation forests.

"As of 2010 we have identified 276 geothermal areas that potentially generate 13.5 GW and have 15 GW in reserve. But only 1,196 MW have so far been developed,? he said.

In order to develop geothermal industry, the government is committed to searching for new working fields and improving the existing data, he said.

?The Geology Agency is preparing a roadmap for exploration of geothermal energy sources,? he added.

Under the existing law, the right to tender geothermal fields lies with the regional governments. (godang)

List of new geothermal working fields

No.	Area	Potential
1.	Bonjol, N. Sumatra	200 MW
2.	Ranau Lake, S. Sumatra-Lampung	210 MW
3.	Gn. Endut in Banten	80 MW
4.	Sangkanhurip in W. Java	100 MW
5.	Mataloko, E. Nusa Tenggara	65 MW
6.	Gn. Lawu, C. Java - E. Java	275 MW
7.	Telomoyo, C. Java	120 MW
8.	Gn. Arjuno, Welirang, E. Java	370 MW
9.	Bora-Pulu, C. Sulawesi	15 MW
10.	Kepahiang, Bengkulu	325 MW