Tender for Papandayan geothermal project expected this year

By Thomas R. Sembiring

West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan (Aher) expected tender for the Mount Papandayan geothermal area in Garut Regency to be held this year in a bid to accelerate the development of the geothermal potential in the province.

Aher said that domestic and foreign investors have expressed interest to develop the Papandayan geothermal potential.

?Hopefully, (tender for the) Mt Papandayan (geothermal potential) can be held this year,? he told Petromindo.com on the sidelines of a business gathering in Jakarta Friday.

He said that West Java holds a huge geothermal potential, estimated to account for about 25 percent of the country?s total geothermal potential, but only 10 percent has been developed so far.

Geothermal reserves in West Java are found in 43 areas with the potential to produce geothermal steam able to generate up to 6,000 MW of electricity.

The House of Representatives has recently passed a new geothermal law, which is expected to help accelerate new investment in the geothermal sector.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak