The Central Java Provincial Government has stated that geothermal\ndevelopment at Mount Ungaran in Semarang Regency has the potential to\ngenerate up to 55 megawatts (MW) of electricity from a power plant.<\/p>\n
Head of the New and Renewable Energy (EBT) Division at the Central\nJava Energy and Mineral Resources Office, Dwi Suryono, said in Semarang\non Wednesday that the area spans 29,800 hectares and is estimated to\ncontribute 4-5 percent of the total renewable energy mix in Central\nJava.<\/p>\n
To harness the geothermal energy, he said, drilling to a depth of\n1,900-2,200 metres is expected to be required.<\/p>\n
However, he cautioned that drilling would not be carried out in\narbitrary locations, but rather based on geothermal potential identified\nthrough prior research.<\/p>\n
If geothermal resources are found as expected and the permitting\nstages proceed smoothly, he continued, the geothermal power plant, with\nan investment value of US$300 million, will commence operations in\n2031.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo prove the existence of geothermal potential, drilling needs to be\ncarried out. However, all permitting phases must of course be fulfilled.\nIf the timeline is met, drilling will be conducted at the end of 2028 or\nearly 2029,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
If sufficient geothermal resources are found, he said, infrastructure\nwill be built and commercial operation date (COD) will be achieved in\n2031 to generate electricity, which will be transmitted to the\ninterconnected Java, Madura and Bali grid system.<\/p>\n
He also confirmed that the geothermal exploration plan in the Mount\nUngaran area, located in Semarang Regency and bordering Kendal, will\nundergo a rigorous process, from environmental permits to public\nhearings involving local communities.<\/p>\n
Following the issuance of Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources\nDecree Number 134.TK\/EK.04\/MEMBPE\/2026, he said, the process remains\nlengthy before reaching the drilling and geothermal mining stages.<\/p>\n
Through that decree, he said, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral\nResources delegated the Geothermal Working Area (WKP) to PT PLN\nPersero.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, there are permitting stages that must be passed, such as\nKKPR (Spatial Utilisation Activity Suitability) and PPKH (Forest Area\nUse Approval).<\/p>\n
Beyond that, the project must also obtain an environmental permit or\nAmdal (Environmental Impact Analysis).<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, permits already obtained do not mean activities can\ncommence immediately. There are also forums within the environmental\npermit process, public hearings inviting relevant parties such as\nstakeholders, the community and NGOs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Dwi added that the renewable energy mix in Central Java has currently\nreached 22.3 percent, exceeding the 2025 Regional Energy General Plan\n(RUED) target of 21.32 percent.<\/p>\n
Not only at Mount Ungaran, he said, geothermal renewable energy\npotential in Central Java stretches from Dieng, Baturraden, Guci, Umbul\nTelomoyo and Jenawi.<\/p>\n
\u201cDieng is already operating at 70 MW, with phase two of 55 MW in\nprogress. In Jenawi there has been no further activity, in Umbul\nTelomoyo socialisation has been carried out, Baturraden is still off,\nand Guci is also still off,\u201d he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/central-java-government-mount-ungaran-geothermal-potential-stands-at-55-mw-1787748946", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }