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In the Kabupaten Lebong of Bengkulu, 24 geothermal wells have been fully prepared to generate electricity with a capacity of 2 x 55 megawatts, sufficient to power around 244,000 homes. Despite this readiness since 2020, the project has yet to reach its operational potential due to delays in the construction of the PLN power plant.

Edy Sudarmadi, Project Manager at Pertamina Geothermal Energy, confirmed that drilling is complete, and the wells are ready for production. Currently, efforts are underway to install pipelines connecting these geothermal sources to the power plant.

Communication remains crucial as Pertamina awaits further updates from PLN, which is in the process of tendering the power plant's construction. Once completed, the production from the geothermal wells can be fully utilized.

Edy highlighted the importance of collaboration between Pertamina, local government, and PLN to overcome existing challenges. The Lebong regent, Azhari, expressed optimism regarding the geothermal energy project, emphasizing its potential to bolster local economic development and job creation.

With only 30% of Kabupaten Lebong accessible for agricultural purposes, the operation of the geothermal power plant is eagerly anticipated by the local population. Azhari assured that the local government is prepared to provide support to ensure the project's success. Meanwhile, PLN's Senior Manager Dede Mairizal disclosed that the tender process is underway, with funding sourced from loans, and construction could potentially start in January 2026 if all goes according to plan.

On a broader scale, Pertamina Geothermal Energy aims to position itself as a leader in geothermal energy by 2029-2030, actively pursuing partnerships with international firms to expedite project development and mitigate risks. The company is currently collaborating with Chevron on a project in Lampung and with Mubadala Energy in Kotamobagu.

At the 11th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition, industry leaders discussed Indonesia's potential as a global leader in geothermal energy. Pertamina's CEO, Julfi Hadi, called for innovation in technology to streamline the development of geothermal power plants and emphasized the need for government support in formulating effective incentives to encourage investment in this high-risk sector.

By fostering collaboration among stakeholders and creating an efficient support system, the development of Indonesia's geothermal energy sector could accelerate, helping to achieve the ambitious target of 1 gigawatt of installed geothermal capacity in the coming years.