Bedugul power project faces strong criticism
Bedugul power project faces strong criticism
JAKARTA (JP): A senior environmental expert criticized
yesterday the government's decision to allow the development of a
geothermal power plant in Bedugul, Bali, saying the power project
would have a negative impact on the environment.
Emil Salim, a former minister of environment, said the
geothermal power plant violated the environmental law which
prohibits investors from opening a business project in a natural
reserve area such as Bedugul.
Bedugul is home to rare bird species such as the Jalak Bali
and has become a natural reserve area.
"If a project like this continues to be developed, I'm afraid
our environment will soon deteriorate," he said.
He said the geothermal power plant in Bedugul would have a bad
impact on birds and other rare species in the Bedugul vicinity.
"Even if the area holds gold or diamond or oil reserves, we
should not automatically turn the area into business," he said.
Emil, who ended his ministerial post in 1993, said he and
former minister of mines and energy Subroto turned down the
proposal to build the Bedugul power plant when they were still
active ministers.
"We agreed at the time not to develop a geothermal power plant
in Bedugul... but I do not understand why this project received
an approval later on," he said after attending a seminar on
Opportunities and Challenges of Doing Business in the Global
Market.
He blamed the government for allowing PT Pertamina and Bali
Energy Ltd to develop the project.
"The people to blame are those who gave the license to develop
the project and those who do not protect the area from being
developed," Emil said.
Last year, state-owned PT Pertamina and Bali Energy Ltd signed
a contract to develop two 55-megawatt power plant stations under
a joint operation contract.
Under a 42-year contract, both companies will eventually
build, operate and own eight geothermal power stations with a
combined total capacity of 400 megawatts.
Emil said yesterday that of 145 million hectares of forest in
Indonesia, about 48 million hectares including the Bedugul area
have been designated for park and conservation areas.
"The size of the conservation area is so small... why do they
dare to take this?" he asked.
Subroto, a former minister of mines and energy, however,
refused yesterday to comment on the controversial Bedugul power
project.
"I am not a minister anymore. I do not have the rights to
comment," he said.
But he admitted yesterday that during his tenure in the
ministry of mines and energy, the proposal to build the Bedugul
power project was rejected.
"The Minister of Environment Emil Salim and I agreed not to
give license for investors to develop a geothermal power plant in
Bali," he said. (aly)