Pertamina, Optima pass second round bid for Way Ratai geothermal area

State-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina, and a consortium comprising of PT Optima Nusantara Energi and Enel Green Power S.p.A have passed the second bidding round for the Way Ratai geothermal working area in Lampung, Investor Daily reported on Monday.

The paper quoted Director of Geothermal at the Directorate General of New and Renewable Energy, Yunus Saifulhak as saying that Pertamina, during the second round bidding process, obtained a slightly higher mark than the Optima-consortium, but because the latter was the one which carried out the initial survey for the area it is given the right to match the former?s offer.

He said that the winning bidder is expected to be announced in the second week of June.

The 70,710-ha Way Ratai geothermal working area, which spans over Pesawaran, Tanggamus, and South Lampung regencies and Bandar Lampug city, has estimated reserves of 105 MW, and planned development capacity of 55 MW. Ceiling price for the project is set at 14.6 US cents per kWh, with commercial operate date target of 2022. (*)