PGE produced 2,233 Giga Watt Hour (GWh) of geothermal power in the first nine months of the year exceeding the target of 2,216 GWh.
"The company production target for geothermal power is set at 3,075 GWh in the whole of the year," PGE corporate secretary Tafif Azimudin said here on Friday.
PGE has six units of geothermal power plants (PLTP) including PLTP Kamojang in Kamojang-Darajat, West Java, with a production capacity of 235 megawatts (MW); four units of PLTP Lahedong in Lahedong, North Sulawesi with a capacity of 80 MW; and two units of PLTP Ulubelu in Gunung Way Panas, Lampung with a capacity of 55 MW.
Tafif said currently,PGE operates eight geothermal projects including geothermal steam fields and PLTPs . Five units of the geothermal energy development projects are located in Kamojang, Karaha, Lahendong, Ulubelu and Lumut Balai.
Meanwhile, PGE is developing stem field projects including Hululais and Sungai Penuh steam fields, and four projects in the exploration phase - Bukit Daun, Margabayur, Lawu and Seulawah.
"Infrastructure being built in Bukit Daun is access road via forest 20 kilometers long now in the final phase. Exploration is expected to start in October this year," Tafif said.
Two units of the projects have been completed including Kamojang Unit 5 and Ulubelu Unit 3. Therefore, by the end of 2016, PGE hopes to finish two more projects - Lahedong Unit 5 and Karaha Unit 1 .
Geothermal Director at the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Directorate General of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Yunus Saefulhak said he is optimistic PGE could achieve the production target for geothermal power set for the year with the additional capacity of the plants to be operated.
The capacity of the power plants is increased from 462 megawatts (MW) to 557 MW. The additional capacity include 55 MW contributed by PLTP Ulubelu which came on line in July 2016 and Lahendong Unit 5 , which came on stream in September 2016 with a contribution of 20 MW.
"In December 2016, PGE will set into operation Lahendong with a capacity of 20 MW that the geothermal power production target of PGE this year would be achieved," he said. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
