Jasa Sarana to start geothermal exploration in Sukabumi next month

PT Jasa Sarana, an investment holding company engaged in infrastructure development including energy, said that its subsidiary PT Jabar Rekind Geothermal (JRG) plans to start geothermal exploration activities in Cisolok and Cisukarame, Sukabumi Regency, West Java Province, in September of this year.

Bisnis Indonesia quoted Jasa Sarana President Director Soko Sandi Buwono as saying Tuesday that JRG had completed a successful rig test for the planned drilling activities.

He said that JRG will start with the drilling of two wells of the total 12 wells planned for this year, which have the potential to produce 45 MW of electricity.

JRG, which signed the contract for the geothermal working area in 2009, was supposed to start drilling program last year, but canceled the program due to incompatible rig. Soko said that the company has obtained new rig technology, which promises less risk and cost.

Meanwhile, JRG President Director Ari Putranto said that the exploration program will be jointly carried out with another Jasa Sarana subsidiary PT Jabar Energi and a third partner called PT Roda Drilling Nusantara.

He added that the planned geothermal power plant is targeted to start commercial operation in the first semester of 2020, the output of which to be sold to state-owned electricity firm PT PLN under a 30-year contract. (*)