PLN to develop geothermal power plant in Halmahera Selatan

The government will assign state-owned electricity firm PT PLN to develop a geothermal power plant at Songa Wayaua in Halmahera Selatan Regency, Maluku Utara Province.

The Directorate General of New and Renewable Energy said in a statement on Thursday that the project forms part of efforts to increase power supply in the region and to help meet the government?s geothermal production target of 7.2 GW by 2025.

Together with PLN, the directorate on Thursday started public campaign for the Songa Wayaua geothermal project in a bid to gain support from the local people. The Halmahera Selatan administration said it will fully support the project, and in fact has developed access road to help facilitate the project.

According to the statement, PLN will initially develop a 2x5 MW geothermal power plant in the working area, targeted to be completed in 2020. No further details were provided.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak