Ministry proposes three new geothermal working areas
Tuesday, May 2 2017 - 02:02 AM WIB
The Directorate General of New and Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is set to declare three geothermal potential areas as new geothermal working areas (WKPs) this year for further development in a bid to increase geothermal production in the country.
Director of Geothermal at the directorate Yunus Saefulhak said in a statement obtained Tuesday that the three WKPs included Cubadak-Panti in Pasaman Regency, West Sumatra Province; Sumani in Solok Regency, West Sumatra; and Kadidia in Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi.
He said that the Geological Agency at the ministry has carried out preliminary survey on the three geothermal potential areas.
Yunus said that the government has set renewables to account for about 23 percent of the country?s energy mix by 2025. Of this, geothermal is targeted to contribute 7,200 MW. Therefore, over the next eight years, utilization of geothermal energy must be increased by 450 percent from current utilization level.
He said that the process to determine the three new WKPs will be held in transparent manner involving various stakeholders including local administrations and academicians as well as industry players. (*)
Yunus said that so far, the government has declared a total of 70 WKPs, of which 10 have been in production stage, 25 in exploration and exploitation stage, 1 WKP in the process of obtaining permit, and 35 in the process of tender or assignment to state-owned enterprises for futher development.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak