Indonesia: Challenging situation on Bali geothermal development not without hope

Indonesia: Challenging situation on Bali geothermal development not without
hope

There continues to be some hope on geothermal development in Bali, if one
can find a way of dealing with concerns and opposition by locals.

Geothermal development in Bali, Indonesia has not seen any real movement in
the past few years. A recent piece by CNN from Indonesia is looking at Bali
and the problems in seeing development happening.

The Bedugul geothermal project in Bali has been developed by PT Pertamina
Geothermal Energy (PGE) and Bali Energy Ltd, but things are still very
unclear with various problems surrounding the project.

There has essentially been no work done since 2005. Actual activities around
the project started in 1974, with the geothermal working area set up for
Pertamina the same year.

But there has been local opposition for the project since 1997, due to the
project site being in an area seen as sacred by locals.

An exploration permit was given for the project in 1996 for six wells to be
drilled. Three wells have been drilled, but since then not much has
happened.

There is now a difficult situation. With no utilisation of steam from the
existing three wells any continuation of development would see locals react
angrily.

If these wells are left alone, they could also constitute an environmental
problem due to corrosion. There does not seem to be a solution to the
dilemma, but clearly support by the local population is needed.

Director of PGE Irfan Zainuddin wants to continue the project utilising all
three exploitation wells that can produce and move ahead with the
development of a 10 MW geothermal power plant. So far the company has spent
around $ 52 million for the three exploration and six shallow wells, as well
as their maintenance.

There is though hope, as a lot of the opposition is likely rooted not in
religious issues, but about who will be effected by development with regards
to the division of land and compensation.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Ref:
http://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/challenging-situation-on-bali-geothermal-devel
opment-not-without-hope/?utm_source=ThinkGeoEnergy+List&utm_campaign=2ff5f17
1fd-TGE_Newsletter_RSS1_12_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_657e42f767-2ff5f
171fd-415237525

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com