PGE to build six more geothermal power plants

PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE), a subsidiary of state owned oil and gas company Pertamina, will build at least six more geothermal power plants within the next four years, Kontan reported on Wednesday.

PGE president director Slamet Riadhy said in Jakarta on Tuesday that the operation of the new power plants would increase the company?s geothermal power capacity by 670 megawatt.

At present, the company produces 292 megawatt of electricity from three geothermal power plants including PLTP Kemojang in West Java, PLTP Lahendong in North Sulawesi and PLTU Sibanyak in North Sumatra.

Slamet said that PGE would need at least US$1.5 billion in new investments to finance the expansion projects. A part of the money will be provided by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the World Bank in long-term loans.

At present, PGE is developing geothermal fields to support the operation of the planned six power pants including PLTU Ulubelu in Tanggamus, Lampung, PLTP Hululais in Bengkulu, PLTP Lumut Balai in South Sumatra, PLTP Sungai Penuh in Jambi, PLTP Kotamobagu in South Sulawesi and PLTP Karaha in West Java.(*)