Govt plans to take out geothermal from mining sector

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry plans to take out geothermal from the mining sector to ensure the smooth process of the government?s program to develop renewable energy in the country, Bisnis Indonesia reported on Wednesday.

Djadjang Sukarna, the secretary of the new and renewable energy, said in Jakarta on Tuesday that his ministry was proposing the revision of the Law No 27/2003 on geothermal in order to separate the geothermal and mining operations.

The government would also revise the law of forest conservation to help remove handicaps in the development of geothermal exploration and production in forest areas, he said.

According to the Law No 27/2003, geothermal has the same category with other mineral resources, but in reality exploration and production of geothermal resources don?t really affect the environemnt.

President Director of state owned electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), Nur Pamudji, said that the inclusion of the geothermal into the mining category has hampered the development of geothermal potentials in the country because most of the geothermal reserves are located in forest areas, which are restricted from mining activities.(*)