Through the cooperative program with Pertamina, the University of Auckland will provide Indonesia with training and education in geothermal energy technology.
Friendly relations between Indonesia and New Zealand have been continuous over the past four decades.
"The new cooperation between the University of Auckland and PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy is expected to further strengthen the good relations that have existed between the two countries," the dean of Auckland University`s Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Michael Davies, noted in a written statement on Friday.
Indonesia is home to 40 percent of the world`s geothermal reserves, with total potential of 29,000 megawatts (MW) scattered across 276 locations, but to date the country can only produce 1,226 MW, or 5 percent of the total reserves.
Davies says the University recognises that as a leader in geothermal research and education, it has an important role to play in the plan for development of geothermal resources.
"The University and New Zealand have a long history of sharing their geothermal expertise with developing countries," he added.
New Zealand and Indonesian engineers developed Indonesia`s first geothermal energy plant in the 1970s, and New Zealand has trained over 160 Indonesian engineers in geothermal energy at The University of Auckland`s Geothermal Institute.
More than 850 students from over 50 countries have graduated from the University`s Geothermal Institute with a world-recognised qualification in geothermal energy, and many have gone on to become leaders in the global geothermal industry.
The Geothermal Institute provides a wide array of geothermal research, technology, education, training and consultancy through expertise spread across different faculties, institutes and centres.
According to Davies, the New Zealand-based certification training program would include at least 15 participants per year from Pertamina Geothermal Energy.
He added that the University of Auckland would also organize short training courses on geothermal energy in Indonesia, to include coaching and mentoring programs.
On November 12, 2012, PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) and the University of Auckland signed a geothermal cooperative agreement before Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik in Jakarta.
"The signing of the agreement was the follow-up of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Governments of Indonesia and New Zealand, and continued with an MoU between PGE and Geothermal New Zealand (GEONZ)," according to PGE President Director Slamet Riadhy.
He further said the agreement covered capacity building and post-graduate programs in the geothermal field.
Slamet Riadhy noted that the signing of the agreement would allow for the enacting of other cooperative agreements that would be signed in December 2012 as part of an international cooperation with the Philippines, Japan, Iceland, Germany and France.
According to Slamet, the agreement was also a strategic step toward a long term partnership in strengthening renewable energy cooperation between the two countries.
"The cooperation is expected to have mutual benefits for both parties in enhancing corporate capacity building, business, engineering, human resources, promotion and education," he noted.
Meanwhile, UniServices President Director Peter Lee said cooperation between countries with high energy needs has improved the opportunity for a wide range of expertise and education to be shared in development of geothermal energy.
"This cooperation is very important for our university and New Zealand, in particular, because Indonesia is our tenth largest trading partner," Peter Lee said.
Further, he noted that the two countries have a long history of cooperation in geothermal development, as the Geothermal Institute has been active in Indonesia for more than 40 years.
According to the New Zealand Trade Commissioner in Indonesia, Tim Anderson, the new cooperation with Pertamina reflects the trust of Indonesian energy experts who believe New Zealand is the best country to assist Indonesia in increasing its knowledge about geothermal energy.
In April 2012, Indonesia and New Zealand signed a bilateral cooperation agreement to support the geothermal development plan, calling for the ability to generate 4 gigawatts by 2015.
On its official website, iwww.des.auckland.ac.nz, the University of Auckland is supporting the Indonesian Government`s plans to increase its geothermal energy production by providing specialised geothermal engineering and geoscience courses in New Zealand and Indonesia.
In 2007, the University`s Geothermal Institute introduced a Postgraduate Certificate in Geothermal Energy Technology. Last year, seven Indonesian engineers completed the diploma and all are expected to transfer to the University`s Master of Energy Programme this year.
Five of the diploma graduates work for Pertamina or Star Energy, Indonesian-based energy companies.
Shanti Sugiono, who completed her postgraduate certificate and is now a student in the Master of Energy Programme, says The University of Auckland`s programmes give Indonesian students the "perfect opportunity" to study geothermal energy in New Zealand.
"It gives us the chance to gain knowledge directly from well-known geothermal experts at The University of Auckland.
The programmes also gave students a better perspective about geothermal application in New Zealand, both for direct use and electricity generation purposes," she says.
Many Indonesian engineers have received New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) scholarships that support international postgraduate students in studying geothermal energy at The University of Auckland.
The scholarships are funded by MFAT`s Aid Programme.
Building on the close cooperation between the two countries in geothermal energy, MFAT announced last year that it was going to fund 25 scholarships this year for international postgraduate students, half of them allocated to Indonesian students.
(O001/KR-BSR/O001)
Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
