Bandung (ANTARA) - PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy Tbk (PGE) Kamojang\nis challenging claims that geothermal projects cause environmental\ndamage by implementing an environmentally friendly, zero-waste operating\nsystem.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpeaking of Kamojang, our concession area is now 45,000 hectares. We\ncurrently use approximately 110 hectares. That means only 0.2 per cent\nfor five power plants with a combined capacity of 235 megawatts,\u201d PGE\nKamojang Area General Manager Albertus Novi Purwono said in Kamojang,\nBandung Regency, West Java, on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The very limited land use has been made possible by directional\ndrilling technology at dozens of production wells.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the surface, the distance between wells is about seven metres.\nBut underground, they do not go straight down only; they extend in every\ndirection, towards all points of the compass,\u201d Novi said.<\/p>\n
Using this drilling method, 98 geothermal wells in the Kamojang area\nhave been grouped into just 38 clusters, greatly limiting the forest\nsurface area that needs to be cleared.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cycle is closed. Water is heated into steam, the steam turns the\nturbine, and is then cooled and reinjected into the injection wells,\u201d\nPGE Operations Director Andi Joko Nugroho said.<\/p>\n
Andi explained that all drilling mud is collected in ponds for\nreinjection, while drilling cuttings are repurposed as building\nmaterials.<\/p>\n
The company is also required to reforest land, replacing every\nhectare cleared with new land elsewhere that is restored as forest.<\/p>\n
Once drilling is complete and the steam wells are operating, PGE will\nseek to restore the forest function of the well areas, so that growing\ntrees can help absorb rainwater.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pge-kamojang-rebuts-forest-damage-concerns-with-zero-waste-operations-1792518709", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }