Indonesia accelerates geothermal development to boost clean energy

..geothermal development can go hand in hand with environmental conservation,

Bandarlampung, Lampung (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s National Energy Council (DEN) has emphasized that the government is accelerating geothermal resource development across the country to promote clean and renewable energy.

Speaking at a National Energy Policy outreach event at the University of Lampung (Unila) in Bandar Lampung on Friday, DEN member Surono highlighted Lampung Province as a key focus area given its substantial geothermal potential.

“Indeed, geothermal development is currently being accelerated, including in Lampung, which has extraordinary geothermal potential,” Surono said.

He underscored that geothermal development can go hand in hand with environmental conservation, noting that only a small portion of designated concession areas is used for commercial operations.

“Although a development permit may cover hundreds of hectares, only 2 percent of the area will be used. The remaining land will be preserved for conservation, ensuring the sustainability of geothermal resource management,” he explained.

He added that environmental conservation is essential to maintaining rainwater replenishment for underground geothermal reservoirs, making ecological protection a business necessity.

“Geothermal companies cannot afford to damage the environment because doing so would be like committing suicide. Another major advantage of geothermal energy is that it does not rely on imports and can provide baseload power regardless of weather conditions,” Surono said.

Echoing the call for a transition to clean energy, University of Lampung Rector Lusmeilia Afriani stressed that reliable energy supplies are fundamental to national economic development and energy security.

“The world is currently facing highly complex energy transition challenges, ranging from the global energy crisis and climate change to the need to achieve sustainable national energy sovereignty and security,” Afriani said.

She affirmed that Unila is contributing to regional and national energy self-sufficiency through research initiatives in solar power, geothermal applications, and bioenergy innovations using household waste and organic materials.

Lampung Province currently faces an electricity supply deficit, with installed power generation capacity of approximately 800 megawatts against a peak electricity demand of around 1,300 megawatts.

However, the province has substantial renewable energy resources, including an estimated 2.8 gigawatts of geothermal potential and 0.05 gigawatts of bioenergy potential.

Its existing generation capacity is supplemented by an additional 55 megawatts from the Ulubelu Gunung Tiga geothermal power plant (PLTP).

Significant untapped potential also remains in geothermal working areas around Mount Rajabasa, Way Ratai, and Suoh, as well as in agricultural biomass.

At the national level, DEN has set progressive geothermal capacity targets of 6–9 gigawatts by 2030, 9–14 gigawatts by 2040, 15–20 gigawatts by 2050, and 18–22 gigawatts by 2060.

Related news: Bahlil urges developers to immediately realize geothermal projects

Translator: Ruth Intan Sozometa Kanafi, Yashinta Difa
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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