Govt to begin survey on geothermal fields

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will conduct a survey on the potentials of a number of geothermal working areas (fields) which will be offered to investors for development.

R. Sukhayar, the head of the ministry?s geology research department, said in Jakarta on Monday that his office would need between Rp 19.5 and 26 billion (US$=Rp 9,400) to finance the survey.

?The survey will be financed under the 2010 state budget,? he said, adding that the survey would be carried out to collect geologic, geophysics and geochemical data on the geothermal working areas.

The survey will be carried out on several geothermal working areas including Gunung Kapur field in Jambi, Arjuno Welirang field in East Java, Bora field in Central Sulawesi, Limbong field in South Sulawesi, Krakal field in Kebumen, Central Java, Lawu field in East Java, Taliabu field in North Maluku, Kandangan field in South Kalimantan, Laenia, S.E Sulawesi, Lili field in West Sulawesi, Toheru field in Maluku and West Pasaman in West Sumatra. (godang)