We are not ruling out (the option), which we have discussed among ourselves, to transfer the geothermal management to SKK Migas while we are deliberating the Renewable Energy Bill and Oil and Gas Bill
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) has proposed transferring the management of geothermal energy projects from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKK Migas).

DPR RI's Commission VII Deputy Chair Maman Abdurrahman stated that the recurrence of incidents in various geothermal development projects is sufficient to justify the management transfer to the special task force.

"We are not ruling out (the option), which we have discussed among ourselves, to transfer the geothermal management to SKK Migas while we are deliberating the Renewable Energy Bill and Oil and Gas Bill," Abdurrahman stated in an audience with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources here on Monday.


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The parliamentary commission drew attention to the lack of standard safety management enforced by geothermal companies and the necessity to enhance programs of the Ministry's Directorate General of Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation as the current issues, he stated.

According to the legislator, the geothermal drilling operational standardization that is similar to procedures for oil and gas drilling makes the special task force appropriate to perform its functions over the sector.

"We pity that the director general was often deceived by geothermal companies that hampered the monitoring process and other procedures," Abdurrahman remarked.


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Earlier, a work incident in the geothermal operation sector occurred in the work area of PT Sorik Merapi Geothermal Power in Mandailing Natal, North Sumatra. The company had recorded four incidents in the last two years, and the last incident in April 2022 caused 21 residents to be hospitalized after being exposed to poisonous gas.

According to the ministry's data, the company had obtained geothermal permits in 2010 and 2015, with a work area covering 62.9 thousand hectares and potential geothermal output reaching 240 megawatts.


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Translator: Sugiharto P, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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