Herman Darnel seen as strongest candidate for INAGA new chairman

Herman Darnel, a director at the state-owned power company Indonesia Power, is seen as the strongest candidate to replace Puguh Sugiharto as the new chairman of the Indonesian Geothermal Association (INAGA).

Herman was appointed on Thursday as head of a committee assigned to form the new board of INAGA.

Herman said that his top priority if elected as INAGA chairman would be to push for regulations and government policies that would promote the use of geothermal in the country?s power industry such as special law on geothermal, tax holiday facility and subsidized interest rate for power firms using geothermal.

He said that he would also try to revive some 22 geothermal projects which had been halted during the country?s economic crisis.(Godang/Alex)