By Nova Farida
PT Star Energy Geothermal is currently waiting for green light from the Ministry of Forestry and Environmental Affairs to proceed with geothermal exploration at the Suoh Sekincau Selatan geothermal area in Lampung Province.
“The PSPE (preliminary survey and exploration) in Sekincau is still waiting for the (completion of) boundary modification process of the TRHS (Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra) by the Ministry of Forestry and Environmental Affairs. This is one of a series of PSPE activities that must be completed before exploration begins,” said Harris Yahya, Director of Geothermal of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, to petromindo.com on Tuesday.
He said that the final output of the PSPE activity is the realization of exploration activity.
Read also : Star Energy prepares geothermal exploration strategy
To move toward drilling activities, the geothermal firms must complete several provisions including licensing with the regional governments, Ministry of Forestry and Environmental Affairs, and Ministry of Public Works and People’s Housing, Harris explained.
The ministry had in 2019 issued a decree for Star Energy to carry out PSPE activity in Suoh Sekincau Selatan geothermal area, which has geothermal power generating capacity of about 500 MW. Investment requirement to develop the project is estimated at US$15.54 million. Star Energy is open to partnership to develop the geothermal project. The Suoh Sekincau Selatan geothermal project will be developed in stages, with the first phase of the power plant targeted to start operation in 2028.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak
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