Pertamina will drill 9 geothermal wells

State oil and gas firm PT Pertamina will start drilling nine geothermal wells with an investment of $27 million. The nine wells are located at Kamojang in West Java, Ulubelu, Lubukbale and Lahendong in Sulawesi, Investor Daily newspaper reported Wednesday.

Pertamina?s upstream director Sukusen Soemarinda said most of the funds (required for financing the driling activity) will come from Pertamina and the remaining will come from private partners.

?Each well needs at least $3 million. But the drilling of the two wells in Kamojang will be funded by private partners,? Sukusen said in Jakarta on Monday.

He added that Pertamina is also in the process of completing several geothermal projects, which include Lahendong Units 1, 2 and 3 as well as Kamojang Unit 4.

?The steam (geothermal steam) will be sold to state electricity firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN),? Sukusen said.

Currently, Pertamina has been producing 162 megawatts (MW) from the geothermal source, with 140 MW coming from Kamojang in West Java, 20 MW from Lahendong in North Sulawesi and 2 MW from Sibayak in North Sumatra. (*)