RI, New Zealand sign geothermal agreement

The Directorate General of New and Renewable Energy (EBTKE) at the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources signed on Tuesday a partnership arrangement with New Zealand?s Ministry of Trade and Foreign Affairs on cooperation in geothermal drilling program in Indonesia.

Yunus Saefulhak, Director of Geothermal at the directorate general said in a statement Wednesday that the agreement was aimed at helping Indonesia to accelerate the development of the country?s geothermal potential.

The statement said that three Indonesian government institutions will be involve in the program including the directorate of geothermal at EBTKE, the Geology Agency at the ministry, and PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (SMI), an investment company under the Ministr of Finance specializing in infrastructure projects.

No further details about the partnership were provided.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak