Villagers continue to oppose Ciremai geothermal power project

West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan said that villagers continue to oppose the planned Ciremai geothermal power plant project in Kuningan, West Java.

Ahmad was quoted by Bisnis Indonesia as saying that while the local administration supported the project, villagers continue to oppose it amid fears how the project would affect their livelihoods and local environment.

Ahmad said that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources must set up a team to hold intensive campaign about the benefits of the project to the local villagers.

He said that among of the lingering issues include fears among villagers that the geothermal power plant project will lead to water scarcity, relocation of dozens of villages, and cause damage to the local Ciremai forest conservation area.

The ministry unveiled recently tender for the development of the 38,560-ha Gunung Ciremai geothermal working area, which has probable reserves of 150 MW.

The planned geothermal power plant capacity is 110 MW, with commercial operation date target of 2025. The ceiling electricity tariff is 15.9 US cents per kWh, according to Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Decree No 17/2014. (*)