Govt targets 300 MW per year from geothermal

The government has targeted to increase the power generation capacity in the country by between 57 and 60 GW in the next ten years. Of the total 60 GW, around 300 Mega Watt will be generated from geothermal every year.

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said in a press release on Friday that so far, the power generated from geothermal only amounted to 1,341 MW or 4.1 percent of Indonesia?s potential of about 30 GW.

Indonesia?s geothermal potential accounts for 40 percent of the world?s total potential, the largest in the world. But in terms of geothermal power generation, Indonesia ranks third after the US which has generated a total geothermal power of 3,093 MW, and the Philippines at 1,904 MW.

If Indonesia?s geothermal potential can be fully utilized for power generation for 30 years, the geothermal utilization will be equal to the consumption of 12 billion barrels of oil for power generation.

Recently, during the 3rd conference and exhibition of new and renewable energy (EBTKE) in Jakarta, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik urged all regional administrations to tap and develop their geothermal potential.

He said that the government will continue to pursue efforts of increasing the power generation from geothermal. For the second fast track program (FTP II) of 17,000 MW power development, the government has targeted to generate a total of 4,700 MW from geothermal.

?One of my ambitions is to develop this renewable energy as a way to save Indonesia from the possible energy crisis in the future,? said the minister.

Editing by Benget Besalicto ST