Pertamina Drives National Geothermal Expansion at IIGCE 2026
PT Pertamina (Persero) continues to strengthen its commitment to supporting the national energy transition through the development of clean energy, including geothermal power.
This commitment is realised through various strategic steps by the Pertamina Group in developing new projects, expanding exploration, and optimising geothermal assets that are already in operation.
The government has positioned geothermal energy as one of the strategic energy sources to strengthen national energy sovereignty.
In his remarks at The 12th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition (IIGCE) 2026, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia said that President Prabowo Subianto has asked the government to seek various alternative energy breakthroughs to reduce dependence on imported energy, especially amid geopolitical uncertainty and global energy price dynamics.
President Director of PT Pertamina (Persero) Simon Aloysius Mantiri and his team were also present at IIGCE 2026 as a show of Pertamina’s support for geothermal development.
This is part of Pertamina’s strategy in running a sustainable energy business while maintaining a balance between energy security, energy affordability, and environmental sustainability.
“Pertamina continues to accelerate its transformation towards a low-carbon energy business and is committed to expanding geothermal development to support national energy security,” Simon explained in a written statement on Thursday, 20 August 2026.
At the IIGCE 2026 event, Pertamina, through PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy Tbk (PGE), signed a number of strategic agreements and received a new geothermal exploration assignment from the government.
These included the signing of two Letters of Intent (LoI) between PT PLN (Persero) and a consortium of PGE and PT PLN Indonesia Power (PLN IP) for the development of the Ulubelu Bottoming Unit Geothermal Power Plant (PLTP) and the Lahendong Bottoming Unit PLTP.
President Director of PGE Ahmad Yani said this step is part of efforts to optimise the potential of geothermal power plants that are already in operation.
“We welcome the signing of this LOI with great optimism. The Ulubelu and Lahendong PLTPs have so far played an important role in providing electricity in Lampung and North Sulawesi,” he said.
PGE is confident that the additional units developed together with PLN IP will provide a clean and reliable electricity supply for more households, which will be able to drive sustainable economic growth for the community.
“This is our commitment to providing energy that empowers the community,” Ahmad explained.
On the same occasion, PGE received a Decree (SK) from the Minister of ESDM regarding the Assignment of Preliminary Survey and Exploration (PSPE) for geothermal energy in the Cubadak Panti area, Pasaman and West Pasaman Regencies, West Sumatra.
“This responsibility is PGE’s commitment to continue supporting the Net Zero Emission 2060 target and strengthening national energy security,” he said.
With strong synergy between the government, business actors and the community, Ahmad added, PGE will carry out this mandate so that it can transform the geothermal potential of Cubadak Panti into sustainable benefits and added value for the community.
At IIGCE 2026, Pertamina, through PGE, also launched a book titled Menjaga Masa Depan Energi Bangsa: 100 Tahun Panas Bumi Indonesia (Safeguarding the Nation’s Energy Future: 100 Years of Indonesian Geothermal). The book was symbolically handed over by Ahmad Yani to Minister of ESDM Bahlil Lahadalia as part of the commemoration of a century of Indonesia’s geothermal journey.
The book reviews the history of national geothermal development, which began with the KMJ-3 well in Kamojang in 1926. The well has consistently produced dry steam and became one of the early milestones in the development of Indonesia’s geothermal industry.
Through this book, the long journey of the national geothermal industry, the dynamics of its development, and the opportunities for geothermal energy as Indonesia’s future energy source are documented.
These various efforts strengthen the role of the Pertamina Group in supporting the national energy transition and maintaining Indonesia’s energy security.