Rekind raises investment for Cisolok-Sukarame geothermal project

PT Rekayasa Industri (Rekind) plans to raise its investment in developing the Cisolok-Sukarame geothermal power plant (PLTU Siolok-Sukarame) project in West Java amid higher-than-expected potential of the geothermal energy in the area.

Director for Busienss of Rekind, Nieke Widyawati, said that the company initially estimated the geothermal energy in the Cisolok-Sukarame project could generate electricity of up to 45 megawatt (MW).

However, after conducting further geology and geophysics survey, it was found out that the geothermal energy in the area could generate much higher electricity.

?It could generate electricity of between 120 to 140 MW,? Nieke was quoted by Bisnis Indonesia as saying on Friday.

Given this potentials, Rekind plans to build more than one unit of power plants in Cisolok-Sukarame. As a result, the investment to develop the power plants could be higher than initial estimates. For one power plant unit with output capacity of 45 MW, the company allocates US$123 million.

Nieke said her company is now planning to raise investment to US$370 million to develop a number of power plant units. (*)