Bengkulu ready to supply Sumatra's 110-MW geothermal power

Bengkulu (ANTARA) - Governor of Bengkulu Rohidin Mersyah stated that the province, also nicknamed "Bumi Raflesia," is ready to supply Sumatra's 110 Megawatts (MW) of electrical energy produced from a geothermal source.

"The geothermal potential in the Hulu Lais Lebong area is ready (to be utilized), with a capacity of 110 MW. Currently, what remains is to only build the generator and network by PLN," Governor Rohidin Mersyah stated in Bengkulu, Friday.

The governor noted that few obstacles currently still remain pertaining to the government's policy clause that generators and networks must use a minimum of 25 percent domestic products as per Presidential Decree No.16 of 2018.

"Meanwhile, in the beginning, a contract was made with Japan, and they were ready to use products from any country," Mersyah remarked.

Hence, the Bengkulu provincial government will write a special letter to the Ministry of Industry and Trade regarding the obstacles. It is because the contract commitment has been running for the past four to five years, while the new regulation just came into effect in 2023.

"If you look at the provisions, the obstacle is getting a dispensation policy, and there is one PGE project in another province that can apply that way. Our hope is that if this can be completed in 2024, it can operate and will have an impact on Bengkulu's economy, and nationally, it can contribute to creating energy security," he stated.

The Bengkulu provincial government took prompt steps to write to the Ministry of Industry and Trade to overcome obstacles related to the construction of a power plant to harness the geothermal potential of Hulu Lais, Lebong District.

Meanwhile, Operations Director of PT Pertamina Geothermal Energi (PGE) Pertamina Eko Agung Bramantyo said 110 MW of electricity had been ready and merely had to be channeled to the generators that would be managed by PT PLN.

"Indeed, the schedule is falling a bit behind because the readiness of the existing generators is related to auctions and loans," he remarked.

Bramantyo noted that in other places, such as in the neighboring Bengkulu Province, including in the Muara Enim area, South Sumatra, such generators were already being operated.