Notes of the Indonesian Panasbumi Association After the January 25 Event in Mandailing Natal
By Editors : 21 FEBRUARY 2021 - 15: 10
Jakarta, sidaknews.com - Indonesia as an archipelagic country located in the ring of fire area is awarded a large geothermal energy potential, which is about 40 percent of the world's geothermal potential reserves.
Based on data from the Geological Agency, the geothermal potential in Indonesia is 23.9 Giga Watts (GW) until December 2019, and to date, based on data from the Geothermal Directorate, this potential has only been used as electricity by 8.9% or 2,130. 6 MW, occupies the second position in the world. In the National Energy Policy (KEN), the Government is targeting an increase in the utilization of indirect (electric power) geothermal in the national energy mix to 7,241.5 MW in 2025.
The development and management of geothermal energy in the Indonesian territory is filled with various romance and dynamics, starting from the survey and drilling carried out by the Dutch in 1918 and 1926 which had stopped and only then started to grow again after Indonesia's independence from the 1960s, 1970s to 1990s, and had collapsed in the late 1990s, then rose again with the issuance of the Geothermal Law in 2003 until now after the 2014 Geothermal Law.
The romance that colors geothermal development in Indonesia does not dampen the determination of geothermal developers in Indonesia to always prioritize operational excellence in all aspects, including Health, Safety, Security, & Environment in
geothermal management, and this is proven by having been operating for nearly 40 years well and smoothly, with more than 29 million safe working hours since 1983 from the first geothermal field in Indonesia in Kamojang, West Java. In the world, the development of geothermal energy is also not new, such as in Larderello, Italy which has been more than 100 years and in America for more than 60 years.
Of all the geothermal developments, the capacity of electrical energy generated from geothermal energy tends to increase along with the development of technology. As clean and sustainable energy, geothermal energy also played a role in saving Iceland from the oil crisis that occurred in the 1970s, at which time the Icelandic Government chose to change its energy policy from petroleum-based to hydro and geothermal-based. and when the oil crisis ended in the 1980s, other countries returned to petroleum, but Iceland remained consistent with geothermal development and continued to make progress in renewable energy development. Success in geothermal development and management has also occurred in several other countries such as Mexico, the Philippines and New Zealand.
"We are very concerned and express our deep sorrow to the victims and Sorik Marapi Geothermal Power (SMGP) for the incident that occurred on January 25, 2021," said Chairman of the Indonesian Geothermal Association (API), Prijandaru Effendi through his press statement received. journalists, Sunday (21/2/2021)
"We really respect the investigations that are currently being carried out by the authorities and of course the results of these investigations will be very valuable lessons and improvements in the field of work safety and environmental protection for SMGP and other geothermal developers" added Prijandaru.
Prijandaru also emphasized that the development of geothermal energy must continue, because in addition to being proven safe, clean and sustainable, geothermal development currently also contributes to reducing emissions of around 11 million tons of CO2 per year and saving the country's foreign exchange reserves of around 2 billion. USD dollars in a year, as well as many other multiplier effects such as the development of the community economy around geothermal development locations.
"Almost all geothermal development is located in the mountains with very limited access to infrastructure, and geothermal developers carry out infrastructure development to be able to develop geothermal energy in the region, and after operation they also pay production bonuses directly to the regional government accounts," added Prijandaru.
And although geothermal energy is energy with local wisdom, in situ, clean and environmentally friendly and reliable because it can be a base load for the electrical system of PT. PLN (Persero), Prijandaru also reminded geothermal developers to pay attention to and carry out all procedures that apply to good geothermal business practices and to continue to maintain a harmonious relationship with the community and surrounding stakeholders.
"Socialization and communication with the community must be well maintained, because geothermal developers will coexist with the community in geothermal management," added Prijandaru.
As we know, the average utilization period of geothermal energy is 30 years outside the time required for exploration and construction.
Prijandaru also added that the current geothermal development in Indonesia will open up potential investment opportunities of approximately USD. 25 billion in the next 5 years, and each geothermal project will also improve the infrastructure and economy of the producing area, creating jobs for the local community on average approximately 600 - 1500 people during the construction period, and 100 people during the production period.
"We realize that every activity in developing geothermal energy still has risks. Therefore, the principle of prudence and the correct and efficient application of a system of occupational safety and health and environmental protection is the obligation of every geothermal developer and operator. Based on the work safety statistics for geothermal development in Indonesia, so far it has had high safe working hours. For this commitment, almost all geothermal developers have received awards from the relevant ministries, both in the field of work safety and environmental protection and community development, "explained Prijandaru.
Prijandaru further said that with the support of each stakeholder in a sustainable manner, every risk can be minimized and we, the developers and geothermal supporting businesses, of course will continue to improve ourselves and increase the application of the precautionary principle in every activity carried out. Thus, stakeholders, communities and developers can jointly play a role in maintaining national energy security by accelerating the development of geothermal projects in Indonesia. (Son)