Licensing hampers geothermal exploration: PGE

PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy (GPE), a subsidiary of state owned oil and gas company Pertamina could not continue its exploration activities in its Kotamobagu working area in North Sulawesi because the geothermal reserves were located in forest conservation areas, Investor Daily reported on Friday.

As geothermal exploration is considered mining activities, its exploration in forest conservation areas is not prohibited under the mining law. Exploration activities in protected forests require a special permit from the forestry ministry.

PGE Corporate Secretary Adiatma Sardjito said the company actually needed just several hectares of areas to carry out the exploration. For Kotamobagu, PGE needs four areas each with a size between two and three hectares to carry out exploration.

?But due to the lack of a permit, PGE could not carry out the exploration,? he said, adding that PGE hoped to continue the exploration next year after securing a permit from the forestry ministry.

Meanwhile for Sungai Penuh geothermal field in Jambi, PGE planned to carry out exploration activities this year. ?This year, we hope we will be able to drill two wells. We have brought a rig there and ready to begin exploration,? he added.

Adiatma said that this year the company planned to drill 19 geothermal wells. As of August, the company had completed drilling of 12 wells. In addition to Sungai Penuh, the company is also drilling wells in Karaha, Lahendong and Lumut Balai geothermal fields. Next year, PGE has set a target to drill 38 wells. (*)