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Latest Reports Geothermal Power
Geothermal energy is a (relatively) environmentally friendly power source that is derived from Earth's inner heat (the Earth’s core is estimated to carry temperatures around 5,500 degrees centigrade, which in fact equals the temperatures found at the surface of the Sun).
Despite several persistent challenges, geothermal energy remains a very interesting (and relatively environmentally friendly) power source for Indonesia. It is estimated that Indonesia is home to 40 percent of total global geothermal energy potential. But as impressive as that sounds, the country only uses a fraction of the potential. So, let’s take a look at recent developments in terms of geothermal power in Indonesia.
Indonesia has now overtaken the Philippines in terms of geothermal power capacity. At the end of Q1-2018 Indonesia's installed geothermal power capacity reached 1,925 MW, higher than the 1,868 MW capacity of the Philippines. Moreover, by the end of 2018, Indonesia is expected to see its geothermal power capacity rise to 2,058 MW. However, Indonesia is still far away from becoming the world's biggest geothermal power producer. Capacity of the USA currently stands at 3,591 MW, hence leading by a distance.
In an attempt to attract investment in geothermal exploration in Indonesia, the central government decided to remove a land tax for companies that explore geothermal energy resources through a new decree. In 2017 this land tax will be scrapped for all companies that hold a geothermal business permit and are still in the exploration stage. According to information released on the website of Indonesia's Finance Ministry companies are entitled to a 100 percent tax reduction in land tax each year, for up to seven years.
The government of Indonesia plans to offer 19 geothermal blocks to investors in 2016 through tenders and direct assignment. Yunus Saifulhak, Chief of Geothermal Power at the Energy Ministry's Directorate General, said eight blocks will be offered through open tenders, while the 11 remaining geothermal power blocks will be given to state-owned enterprises. These 19 blocks are part of a larger package consisting of 27 geothermal blocks with a total combined power capacity of 1,535 megawatt (MW) that is to be offered to private and state-owned investors in the 2016-2017 period.
The government of Indonesia will offer 21 geothermal blocks to investors over the next two years. Combined these 21 blocks, which are estimated to require USD $4.2 billion in investment, have a power generation capacity of 1,065 megawatt (MW). An official of Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said most of the geothermal power blocks will be offered through an open auction. The first auction is expected to take place in March 2016.
Indonesia's push for usage of renewable energy sources, particularly geothermal energy, at the expense of usage of fossil fuels (such as oil or coal) has experienced a setback as there has been an impasse between state-owned electricity company Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) and Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE), a subsidiary of state-owned energy company Pertamina regarding the renewal of their power purchase deal for electricity generated by PGE's Lahendong and Kamojang plants. The existing deal expires at the end of the year.
The government of Indonesia will tender three geothermal energy projects in October 2015. These three projects are the Way Ratai (South Sumatra), Bukit Kili (West Sumatra), and Marana (Central Sulawesi) fields. Indonesia is estimated to contain about 40 percent of the world’s geothermal reserves and therefore entails great potential for this energy source. However, Southeast Asia’s largest economy only utilizes approximately 4.7 percent (1,403 megawatts) of its total geothermal capacity (29,475 megawatts).
Indonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR) passed an important geothermal bill in a plenary session on Tuesday (26/08). This new bill is expected to be a great leap in the development of geothermal power in Southeast Asia’s largest economy. Indonesia contains the world's largest geothermal energy reserves. However the country only uses a small fraction of this geothermal potential. Meanwhile, amid robust economic growth, the country is in serious need to provide more electricity and power to its people and businesses.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will be present at the official launch of four geothermal power plants (the Ulumbu, Ropa, Ndunga and Mataloko plants) on 11 September 2014 on Flores (East Nusa Tenggara). These plants will supply 20 megawatts of electricity to eight regencies on the island (West Manggarai, Manggarai, East Manggarai, Ngada, Nagekeo, Ende, Sikka and East Flores). Indonesia is estimated to have the world's largest geothermal energy reserves. However, the country only uses a fraction of its geothermal potential.
Latest Columns Geothermal Power
In 2018 Indonesia is expected to become the world's second-biggest geothermal energy producer, surpassing the Philippines that now lies second after the United States. Meanwhile, Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry projects Indonesia to become the world's largest geothermal power producer by 2021. These developments are based on ongoing geothermal development in Southeast Asia's largest economy.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (often called Jokowi) emphasized that the government of Indonesia needs to boost development of renewable energy. Although Indonesia contains huge potential for renewable energy (particularly geothermal energy), the share of renewable energy in Indonesia’s total energy use currently stands at around 5 percent only, the remainder being fossil energy. By providing incentives, attractive tariffs and an easier licensing and registration process, the government can generate more investment in this sector.
Inpex Corporation, a leading Japanese oil & gas exploration and production firm, announced today that it agreed to take part in the 330-megawatt Sarulla Geothermal Power Project in North Sumatra (Indonesia), the world’s largest single-contract geothermal power project. Inpex Corp acquired a 49 percent stake in a local unit of Medco Power Indonesia. As such, Inpex Corp’s participation in the project is indirect. Parent company Medco Power Indonesia owns a 37.5 percent stake in the Sarulla project.
The Indonesian government plans to tender 25 new geothermal development sites with a total combined capacity of 1,225 megawatt (MW). These 25 projects will require a total of USD $4.6 billion worth of investments and help to achieve the government’s target to raise the portion of geothermal energy in the country’s energy mix to 7.1 percent by 2025. These 25 projects are in addition to the 31 geothermal development projects that are currently being constructed and which should be operational by 2020.
The new Joko Widodo-led government aims to triple domestic geothermal power production within the next five years in an effort to meet ever-increasing power demand in the world’s fourth-most populous country and to shift to more environment friendly energy sources (rather than the over-reliance on fossil fuels such as oil and coal). Although Indonesia is estimated to contain the world's largest geothermal energy reserves, the country only uses about four percent of its geothermal capacity potential.
