Pasifik Geo returns Argopuro geothermal working area

PT Pasifik Geo Energy has returned to the government the Argopuro geothermal working area in West Nusa Tenggara Province to the government as the company deems the project to be not economically feasible, Kontan reported on Tuesday.

The paper quoted Director General of New and Renewable Energy Rida Mulyana as saying that the geothermal working area was initially estimated to be able to produce electricity of 20 MW. The company has already obtained IUP permit for the geothermal working area, he added.

This portal reported on January 23, also quoting Rida, that PT Jasa Daya Chevron (JDC), a subsidiary of American energy giant Chevron Corporation, has returned to the government the Ciremai geothermal working area in West Java, where it initially planned to develop 2x55 MW geothermal power plant, according to a senior official at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry. Chevron, however, has yet to get IUP permit for the area.

Rida said that the two geothermal working areas will be offered to other investors in a tender planned to be held by the government this year for 25 geothermal areas, estimated to be able to produce electricity with combined capacity of 1,225 MW. (*)