"Hopefully, God willing, we can make Flores a geothermal island considering the extraordinary supply of geothermal (energy) there," the ministry's director general of new, renewable energy, and energy conservation, Eniya Listiani Dewi, said on Monday.
She delivered the remarks at a press conference on the 11th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention and Exhibition (IIGCE) 2025 in Jakarta.
She said that geothermal is the only form of renewable energy that can be utilized to replace diesel fuel in Flores.
She then listed other possible renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectric power plants and solar power plants, that can be developed in the area.
However, Flores is too hot and barren, making it difficult to develop hydroelectric power plants. Meanwhile, to replace diesel consumption on the island, solar panels will have to be installed over a large area of land.
"The only gift from nature (that can be utilized here) is geothermal energy," Dewi said.
Therefore, she considered it important for the government to find a replacement for diesel in Flores because the fuel adds to the country's subsidy burden.
For the Flores area alone, the diesel fuel subsidy amounts to Rp1 trillion per year.
"This is what drives us to be able to push through the geothermal project in Flores," she explained.
Related news: Lahadalia assigns PLN to build 40MW geothermal power plant in Maluku
However, the community, traditional organizations, and church groups in Flores have voiced concerns about the impact of the geothermal project on the environment and social life.
Protests have been on for months against Decree No. 2268 K/30/MEM/2017 of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, which designates Flores as a geothermal island.
Since the decree's enactment, a number of geothermal projects have been developed in the Flores region, such as Mataloko (Ngada), Poco Leok, and Wae Sano.
Dewi noted that there have been protests against geothermal power plants in Flores.
"Frankly, I am being protested in Flores. We are communicating intensively with the Governor (of East Nusa Tenggara, Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena); hopefully, this issue can be addressed," she said.
The government is also communicating with the Diocese of Ende, along with related business entities, including PT Sokoria Geothermal Indonesia, state-owned electricity company PT PLN, and PT Daya Mas Geopatra Energi to carry out the projects.
According to Dewi, the communication is going well. She and Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Yuliot Tanjung, also plan to visit East Nusa Tenggara to follow up on it.
"There is indeed a little problem, we admit it," the official added.
Related news: Indonesia has potential to transition fully to green energy: Prabowo
Translator: Putu Indah Savitri, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
