News

Further geothermal potential ripe to be developed in West Sumatra, Indonesia

Further geothermal potential ripe to be developed in West Sumatra, Indonesia Lake Maninjau crater lake, West Sumatra, Indonesia (source: flickr/ Indrani Soemardjan, creative commons)
Alexander Richter 10 Jan 2020

With a potential of 1,700 MW, there could be more geothermal development in West Sumatra, beyond the recently inaugurated Muara Laboh plant.

Interviewed in local news, the head of the West Sumatra Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Agency, Heri Martinus, said the geothermal potential in West Sumatra is around 1,700 MW. The geothermal potential is spread in almost all regions in West Sumatra and can be developed to produce electricity.

Nevertheless, only one of the fields with potential has been exploited, namely in South Solok Regency, which was developed by PT Supreme Energi Muara Laboh with a capacity of 85 MW. “It became officially operational in early 2020,” said Heri Martinus. We reported on the plan. Other projects like the one by PT Hitay Daya Energi in Solok Regency by with a capacity of 20 MW, have faced delays or were cancelled.

Heri Martinus revealed, the project was stopped because there were a few social problems in the field. “They temporarily stopped their work, waiting for developments,” added Heri Martinus.

Then, the one who has been auctioned and the winner is in Bonjol, Pasaman Regency. The Bonjol field with a potential of 60 was auctioned and won by PT Medco Energi Internasional Tbk.

So there is more room for development in the region.

Source: Tribune News