Geothermal could power economic growth on Lombok Island
Lombok Island (source: Flickr, "Lombok-37", Lisa Leonardelli, commercial use, creative commons)
Parker O'Halloran
31 May 2017
Lombok Island in Indonesia is looking into supplement rising demand for electricity with geothermal power projects.
East of Bali sits the lesser known Lombok Island. This Indonesian island is becoming more and more popular as tourist destination for those looking to avoid the more crowded Bali. With this surge in tourism comes greater demand for services that require more electricity. To meet these growing needs, local government officials are investigating the tremendous potential of geothermal in the area around Mount Rinjani or Sembalun.
The Indonesian Geology and Geochemistry department and Pertamina have undertaken four detailed studies of the area since 1991. The studies concluded that there is an estimated 70 MW potential for geothermal energy in the Sembalun region, while the Sebau area has prospects of around 25 MW. With the addition of this power, Lombok Island will be well on their way to developing and supplying the electrical infrastructure to accommodate the increase in tourism. Both these areas are located within the boundaries of the Gunung Rinjani National Park and will need to be planned to minimize environmental impact.
For the full article see below.
Source: The Aryadoeta Post, “Potensi Geothermal Gunung Rinjani (Sembalun)” May 9, 2017.
