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Panax Geothermal expands development portfolio in Indonesia

Panax Geothermal expands development portfolio in Indonesia Penanjakan, Bromo, East Java, Indonesia (source: flickr/ sektordua, creative commons)
Alexander Richter 20 Apr 2011

Australian Panax Geothermal expands its development portfolio in Indonesia, having signed a new agreement for the joint development of the Ngebel 165 MW geothermal project in East Java with locally-owned power company PT Bakrie Power.

In a release this morning, Australian “Panax Geothermal Limited announces further expansions to the company’s development portfolio in Indonesia with the signing of a new agreement for the joint development of a 165 megawatt geothermal project in East Java.

Panax has signed a Binding Heads of Agreement (“HOA”) with locally-owned power company PT Bakrie Power (“Bakrie Power”) to develop the Ngebel Geothermal Project.

Bakrie Power was awarded the tender for the project in November 2010, with a designated development capacity of three 55 megawatt geothermal power plants. There is potential to expand the project to over 200 megawatts.

Under the terms of the agreement, Panax will earn a 35 per cent working interest in the project through funding of required exploration works before commercial development commences, whereupon the parties will contribute pro rata to development costs.

“Panax is committed to building a strong geothermal business in Indonesia and this signing represents our fourth project in Indonesia. Panax’s combined share of potential generating capacity from the four projects exceeds 160 megawatts, with significant upside potential beyond that.” Panax Managing Director Kerry Parker said.

“The Ngebel project has enormous potential. It is a near-term development project in a strategic location that is underpinned by a guaranteed, commercially attractive power tariff.”

“This agreement will also significantly strengthen Panax’s relationship with one of its major development partners, being the third geothermal project in Indonesia that Panax will develop alongside Bakrie Power,” he said.

A considerable amount of exploration has already been undertaken in the project area, including a number of temperature gradient wells, along with detailed geological mapping, geochemistry works for water and gas, thermal manifestation chemistry, heat flow modelling, heat flow mapping and geothermometry work.

Panax will be project operator during the exploration and feasibility stages and will also fund the acquisition of extensive existing data and reports on the project. This will include surface development planning, geological studies, geophysical studies, magnetotelluric data and a detailed, as well as an externally prepared feasibility study.

“This information will assist in the ongoing development of the project and is anticipated to result in significant savings in both time and money,” Mr Parker said.

The Ngebel Geothermal project is intended to supply geothermal energy to Indonesian state- owned power company PT PLN (Persero). The reservoir temperature is predicted at up to 200oC and is approximately 1,000 metres deep.

Commercial development of the project is expected to commence late 2012.”

Source: company release via e-mail