Govt invites bids for development of six geothermal fields

The government will soon invite bids for development of six geothermal fields as part of its program to further increase geothermal power generation in the country, Bisnis Indonesia reported on Friday,

Djadjang Sukarna, the secretary of the director general of new and renewable energy at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry said in Jakarta on Thursday that five of the geothermal fields would be auctioned by local governments and the other one by the central government.

The five geothermal fields are WKP Seulawah Agam in Aceh with a capacity of 1 x 55 MW and potential capacity of 130 MW, WKP Bonjol in West Sumatra with capacity of 3x55 MW and potential capacity of up to 200 MW, WKP Gunung Ciremai in West Java with a capacity of2x55 MW and potential capacity of 150 MW, WKP Mataloko , East Nusa Tenggara , with capacity of 1x5 MW and potential capacity of 63 MW and WKP Songa Wayaua in Mauku with a capacity of 1x 5MW with potential capacity of 140 MW.

Meanwhile the other one which will be auctioned by the central government is WKP Danau Ranau field with capacity of 2 x 55 MW and potential capacity of 210 MW. ?The Danau Ranau field will be auctioned by the central government because the field is located within two provinces Lampung and South Sumatra,? he added.

Indonesia holds about 40 percent of the world?s geothermal deposit, but only between 5 and 6 percent of the geothermal power potential has been tapped. According to the energy and mineral resources ministry, geothermal power generation capacity has reached 1,206 MW, rising only by 17 MW from 1,189 MW last year.(*)