Bedugul power project faces strong criticism<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A senior environmental expert criticized
\nyesterday the government's decision to allow the development of a
\ngeothermal power plant in Bedugul, Bali, saying the power project
\nwould have a negative impact on the environment.<\/p>\n
Emil Salim, a former minister of environment, said the
\ngeothermal power plant violated the environmental law which
\nprohibits investors from opening a business project in a natural
\nreserve area such as Bedugul.<\/p>\n
Bedugul is home to rare bird species such as the Jalak Bali
\nand has become a natural reserve area.<\/p>\n
\"If a project like this continues to be developed, I'm afraid
\nour environment will soon deteriorate,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the geothermal power plant in Bedugul would have a bad
\nimpact on birds and other rare species in the Bedugul vicinity.<\/p>\n
\"Even if the area holds gold or diamond or oil reserves, we
\nshould not automatically turn the area into business,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Emil, who ended his ministerial post in 1993, said he and
\nformer minister of mines and energy Subroto turned down the
\nproposal to build the Bedugul power plant when they were still
\nactive ministers.<\/p>\n
\"We agreed at the time not to develop a geothermal power plant
\nin Bedugul... but I do not understand why this project received
\nan approval later on,\" he said after attending a seminar on
\nOpportunities and Challenges of Doing Business in the Global
\nMarket.<\/p>\n
He blamed the government for allowing PT Pertamina and Bali
\nEnergy Ltd to develop the project.<\/p>\n
\"The people to blame are those who gave the license to develop
\nthe project and those who do not protect the area from being
\ndeveloped,\" Emil said.<\/p>\n
Last year, state-owned PT Pertamina and Bali Energy Ltd signed
\na contract to develop two 55-megawatt power plant stations under
\na joint operation contract.<\/p>\n
Under a 42-year contract, both companies will eventually
\nbuild, operate and own eight geothermal power stations with a
\ncombined total capacity of 400 megawatts.<\/p>\n
Emil said yesterday that of 145 million hectares of forest in
\nIndonesia, about 48 million hectares including the Bedugul area
\nhave been designated for park and conservation areas.<\/p>\n
\"The size of the conservation area is so small... why do they
\ndare to take this?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
Subroto, a former minister of mines and energy, however,
\nrefused yesterday to comment on the controversial Bedugul power
\nproject.<\/p>\n
\"I am not a minister anymore. I do not have the rights to
\ncomment,\" he said.<\/p>\n
But he admitted yesterday that during his tenure in the
\nministry of mines and energy, the proposal to build the Bedugul
\npower project was rejected.<\/p>\n
\"The Minister of Environment Emil Salim and I agreed not to
\ngive license for investors to develop a geothermal power plant in
\nBali,\" he said. (aly)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bedugul-power-project-faces-strong-criticism-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}