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Becoming World's 2nd Largest Geothermal Power Producer

Becoming World's 2nd Largest Geothermal Power Producer
Geothermal power plant | The energy development corp

Indonesia is set to become the world's second largest geothermal power producer, overtaking the Philippines, with its capacity to generate geothermal electricity expected to increase by 385 megawatts next year.

Despite siting on the world's largest geothermal energy reserves, Indonesia today generates only 1,647 megawatts from geothermal wells, less than half of the United States' geothermal power output (3,450 megawatts) and still behind the Philippines (1,870 megawatts).

Yunus Saefulhak, director of geothermal energy at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, said that by the end of this year Indonesia's geothermal power capacity will have increased by 130 megawatts, and by 255 megawatts next year.

"If everything goes to plan, our capacity will soon reach 1,908 megawatts, higher than the Philippines'," Yunus said.

"We will hopefully catch up with the US in 2021," he said, adding that the superpower is unlikely to expand its geothermal power capacity.

Next month, the Lahendong geothermal power plant in North Sulawesi will open a sixth unit that will increase its output by 20 megawatts.

The Sarulla geothermal power plant in North Tapanuli in North Sumatra, with a capacity of 255 megawatts, will also open next month.

The power plant is being developed by Medco Power Indonesia, Japan's Itochu Corporation and US-based Ormat Technologies.

Indonesia has a total of 28,994 megawatts in geothermal power reserves — the largest in the world — but conflicting laws, complicated pricing scheme and opposition from local communities have posed difficulties in harnessing them effectively.

A recent government decision to allow geothermal exploitation in conservation areas — a successful practice learnt from the Philippines — is likely to speed up the process and prove that conservation and power generation can go hand in hand.

The Jakarta Post

Akhyari Hananto

I began my career in the banking industry in 1997, and stayed approx 6 years in it. This industry boost his knowledge about the economic condition in Indonesia, both macro and micro, and how to More understand it. My banking career continued in Yogyakarta when I joined in a program funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB),as the coordinator for a program aimed to help improve the quality of learning and teaching process in private universities in Yogyakarta. When the earthquake stroke Yogyakarta, I chose to join an international NGO working in the area of ?disaster response and management, which allows me to help rebuild the city, as well as other disaster-stricken area in Indonesia. I went on to become the coordinator for emergency response in the Asia Pacific region. Then I was assigned for 1 year in Cambodia, as a country coordinator mostly to deliver developmental programs (water and sanitation, education, livelihood). In 2009, he continued his career as a protocol and HR officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya, and two years later I joined the Political and Economic Section until now, where i have to deal with extensive range of people and government officials, as well as private and government institution troughout eastern Indonesia. I am the founder and Editor-in-Chief in Good News From Indonesia (GNFI), a growing and influential social media movement, and was selected as one of The Most Influential Netizen 2011 by The Marketeers magazine. I also wrote a book on "Fundamentals of Disaster Management in 2007"?, "Good News From Indonesia : Beragam Prestasi Anak Bangsa di dunia"? which was luanched in August 2013, and "Indonesia Bersyukur"? which is launched in Sept 2013. In 2014, 3 books were released in which i was one of the writer; "Indonesia Pelangi Dunia"?, "Indonesia The Untold Stories"? and "Growing! Meretas Jalan Kejayaan" I give lectures to students in lectures nationwide, sharing on full range of issues, from economy, to diplomacy Less
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