Aceh puts much hope in planned 80 MW geothermal development
Bay Sabang, Indonesia (source: flickr/ hartanto, creative commons)
Alexander Richter
9 Oct 2015
The region of Aceh in Indonesia, puts much hope in the development of an 80 MW geothermal power project in Sabang. The project by PT Sabang Geothermal Energy (SGE) plans to start drilling four wells in early December 2015.
Drilling is to start in the beginning of December at a geothermal project in Aceh, Indonesia. The special region is planning to develop an 80 MW geothermal power plant within three years in the town of Sabang.
With the plant, the region hopes to help its economy, which is hampered by electricity shortages.
The project is being developed by PT Sabang Geothermal Energy (SGE), an independent power producer (IPP) which now plans to drill in four locations in December. “We are still waiting for the land permits from the ministry,” PT SGE representative Nurdin said in Sabang.
Given the urgency to get power online, the project is considering ways to speed up the set up of geothermal power plants, e.g. through small-scale wellhead plants.
Since President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo visited Sabang six months ago, the mayor’s office has been approached by a number of investors looking for potential investment opportunities on the country’s westernmost island, said Sabang Mayor Zulkifli H Adam.
The Sabang administration was ready to assist with land issues for the geothermal power station and its transmission lines, Zulkifli added.
According to Zulkifli, the availability of electricity has become a major obstacle for the development of the maritime industry in Aceh.
“We need reliable electricity with strong capacity immediately. We need to build more hotels, revive the fishing industry and stimulate port regeneration to create jobs,” Zulkifli said.
Souce: The Jakarta Post
