Indonesia’s Potential Geothermal Energy Equivalent to 19 Billion Barrels of Oil
Monday, 01 March, 2010 | 17:12 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Bengkulu:The potential of Indonesia’s geothermal energy is 27,710 megawatts (MW) or equivalent to 19 billion barrels of oil.

The capacity presently installed is only 4.3 percent or 1,189 MW out of the 2025 geothermal energy development target which was set at 9,500 MW.

This was announced by Anna Rufaidat from the Geothermal & Ground Water Development Directorate at the Energy & Mineral Resources Ministry during the presentation on Hulu Lais geothermal project development, last week.

“The development target will be set according to the Presidential Decree No. 5/2006 on National Energy Policy,” she said.

M. Irhas, PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy operational director, said the company has nine geothermal energy working areas. Two of them are Sibayak in Brastagi, North Sumatra, which was officially launched by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on December 11, 2007 and Penuh River in Gunung Raya Kerinci, Jambi, which is currently still making the Environmental Impact Analysis (AMDAL) and is scheduled for operation in 2012 with 80 MW of installed capacity.

Hulu Lais itself has 300 MW in capacity and is now constructing the infrastructure after having completed its AMDAL. “We expect to dig two wells in Hulu Lais, each with a 2 x 55 MW capacity. We plan to begin the digging in 2012,” Irhas said.

The drilling will be done between June and July 2010. “We will know the exact potential capacity by October and implement the over rate by 2011,” he added. For the geothermal development project in Hulu Lais, Pertamina has allocated US$300 million.


Phesi Ester Julikawati