The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has revised the country’s geothermal potential to 28,100 megawatts (MW) across 265 spots, up from 27,000 MW a decade ago.

Head of the ministry’s geological agency Suchyar said Thursday that with 30 years of operation the geothermal potential equaled 12 billion barrels of oil.

“Compare this potential with our oil reserves, which only stand at 6.4 billion barrels,” he told Antara state news agency.

Suchyar said that by 2014 the country would have utilized geothermal energy to generate 5,000 MW in electricity, which equals the use of 2.4 billion barrels of oil.

A total of eight geothermal energy sites have been discovered so far located in Kebar area in the West Papua capital of Manokwari with 25 MW in potential reserves; in Tehoru (75 MW), Banda Baru (75 MW), Pohon Batu (50 MW) and Kelapa Dua (25 MW) all in Maluku; and Lili (75 MW), Mapili (50 MW) and Alu (25 MW) in Mandar in West Sulawesi.

The National Energy Policy stipulates that the use of geothermal energy as an energy sources should reach 9,500 MW by 2025. However, Suchyar said less than 1,200 MW of geothermal energy had been explored.

Source : The Jakarta Post