Four geothermal plants expected to start operation in Indonesia this year
In a recent statement by the Director General of the EBTKE in Indonesia, he said that he is hopeful that four geothermal plants will start operations this year at Ulubelu, Sarulla, Lahendong and Karaha Bodas.
The Directorate General of Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) recorded non-tax revenues (non-tax) of geothermal electricity (PLTP) until the first half of 2016 reached Rp288,25 billion ($20 million). With this it has reached 45 percent of the Rp630 billion ($43 million) target for 2016..
In a statement in local media, Director General of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources EBTKE Rida Mulyana said that “the realization of the power supply from geothermal power plants in the first half of 2016 amounted to 1,493.5 MW. The achievement means that electricity from geothermal power plants has reached 90 per cent of the target of 2016 amounted to 1,657.5 MW. In fact, is expected to exceed the target by year-end.
Rida explains, geothermal power plants with a capacity of 55 MW comes from has issued Decree on Establishment MESDM Optima consortium PT Nusantara Energy and ENEL Green Energy (Italy) as the preferred bidder WKP Way Ratai (55 MW) in Lampung Province.
“The installed capacity was 1,438.5 MW, despite an additional 55 MW that started operation on July 15, 2016, which though has not been officially added, so it will be 1,493.5 MW”, so the Minister.
The recent investment from Italy, shows that Indonesia remains an attractive market for geothermal energy, despite the current market conditions in the oil and gas sector and a weak global economy. “We should be proud of a lot of investors who want to come to Indonesia, like now with the Way Ratai project with an estimated potential of 55 MW, again in Lampung,” he said.
He also mentioned that there are an additional capacity of 215 MW of geothermal power plants expected to start operation this year, with a capacity of the 55 MW Ulubelu plant, 110 MW at the Sarulla geothermal power plant, 20 MW at Lahendong and 30 MW at Karaha Bodas. If these four geothermal power plants are in operation this year, the supply of electricity from geothermal energy will exceed the target in 2016.
Source: OkeZone