Start of exploration drilling imminent at Bonjol geothermal site, West Sumatra, Indonesia
Village at valley near Bonjol, West Sumatra, Indonesia (source: Herman Darnel Ibrahi…, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Carlo Cariaga
12 Jun 2025
Drilling of two exploration wells is expected to start by July 2025 at the Bonjol geothermal prospect in Pasaman Regency, West Sumatra, Indonesia.
Preparatory work is at the final stages for exploration drilling at the Bonjol geothermal prospect located in the Pasaman Regency in West Sumatra, Indonesia. The developer, PT Medco Geothermal Sumatera (MGSu), is targeting the start of drilling by July 2025.
The Bonjol geothermal prospect, with an estimated reserve size of 60 MW, was assigned to PT Medco Energi in the second half of 2019. Due to the global pandemic, early exploration work at the site did not start until November 2023. The company started a field data collection campaign in 2023, followed by land acquisition and public engagement work in 2024. By the end of 2024, construction of the road to the drilling site had began. The construction of the well site was completed in March, including a processing
According to Site Manager of PT Medco Geothermal Sumatera (MGSu) Sigit Widiatmoko, drilling will be done in two locations – Bonjol 1 in Kampung Tampang, and Bonjol 3 in Sungai Limau. The geothermal fluids are expected to have a temperature of about 150 °C, thus classifying the resource as medium-enthalpy. “Mas Sigit,” however, cautioned that the process will take time, and the power plant is expected to be operational by 2032.
The Pasaman Regency expressed support for the project, welcoming the exploration activity as an opportunity to drive regional progress. According to Regent Sabar AS, Pasaman and West Sumatra have often been considered unattractive for investment. However, the presence of PT Medco Geothermal can erase this stigma, providing more regional income and creating jobs for the locals. On this topic, Sigit assured that the project would prioritize local workers while PT Medco Geothermal provides the specialized experts.
Local government officials have called on the public to support the project, as it could also transform Bonjol into a tourist destination. If so, the transportation, agriculture, culinary, and creative economy sectors can also benefit from the development.
The Head of the Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Agency (DPMPTSP) of Pasaman Regency, Yusnimar, also expressed support for the other geothermal PSPE areas in the region, which includes the Cubadak (Dua Koto district) and Panti (Panti district) areas.
Earlier this year, PT Medco Cahaya Geothermal started commercial operations of the 35-MW Ijen geothermal power plant, the first geothermal power facility in the West Java region.
Source: Antara News and Berita Geothermal
