Lawu And Wilis Geothermal Power Projects In Process Of Tender

KEDIRI, East Java, Oct 19 (Antara) - The geothermal power projects in Mount Lawu and Mount Wilis in East Java are still in the process of tender by the government. Secretary of the East Java energy and mineral resources office Supoyo said the Central Government holds the authority to tender the projects. The process of tender is expected to be wrapped up soon that explorations could start, Supoyo said here on Tuesday. Mount Lawu lies on the border of the regencies of Karanganyar in Central Java and Magetan in East Java. Mount Wilis borders on a number of areas including Madiun, Nganjuk, Kediri and Tulungagung. Supoyo said the geothermal potential that could be explored in Mount Lawu is estimated to be around 50 megawatts and in Mount Wilis is 120 MW. "The reserves are potential but production would depend on the capacity of PLN (state electricity company)," he said. He said East Java has many areas having geothermal reserves, adding there are 13 areas having geothermal reserves. Currently East Java has two geothermal exploration projects already licensed - in Ngebel, the regency of Ponorogo and in Ijen, Banyuangi, he said. "Drilling already underway in Ijen and hopefully construction of geothermal power plant would start next year. In Ngebel, exploration is still in process," he said. He said the geothermal power projects would significantly contribute to production of alternative energy . Altogether 1,000 megawatts of electric energy could be generated from the various reserves in East Java, he said. The state electricity company PLN will operate all of the energy sources to be distributed to consumers. "Geothermal is renewable source of energy . Coal reserve could be depleted making geothermal more important in the future. When we begin to run out of coal we would have to develop geothermal energy in larger scale," Supoyo said. The government, however, needs to socialize the program more intensively as many fears that geothermal projects would damage the environment.