PGE Spuds First Exploration Well for Lumut Balai Unit 3 Geothermal Plant
Jakarta (ANTARA) - PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy Tbk (PGE) has carried out the spud-in of the first exploration well for the development of the Lumut Balai Unit 3 Geothermal Power Plant (PLTP) in Muara Enim, as part of efforts to optimise geothermal development in Sumatra.
PGE President Director Ahmad Yani, in a statement issued in Jakarta on Thursday, said the milestone marks an important step in the company’s drive to accelerate the clean energy transition whilst strengthening national energy resilience ahead of the 100th anniversary of geothermal development in Indonesia.
“The spud-in of the first well at the Lumut Balai Unit 3 geothermal plant is a concrete step in delivering clean, resilient energy to support national economic growth,” said Ahmad Yani.
The spud-in ceremony for Lumut Balai Unit 3 took place at well LMB 19-3, located in Babatan village, Semende Darat Ulu subdistrict, using the GDAP#123 rig.
With a target depth of 2,500 metres, drilling is expected to be completed within 44 days.
Situated at the foot of Lumut Balai hill in Muara Enim, South Sumatra, the Lumut Balai Unit 3 geothermal plant is a continuation of two strategic PGE projects within the Lumut Balai and Margabayur Geothermal Working Areas (WKP).
PGE previously commissioned Unit 1, inaugurated in September 2019, and Unit 2 in June 2025, with a combined total capacity of 2x55 megawatts (MW).
“With a target operational date of 2030, the Lumut Balai Unit 3 plant will add 55 MW of clean electricity supply, further strengthening the power grid in the Muara Enim region and South Sumatra,” said Ahmad Yani.
The Lumut Balai Unit 3 project forms part of PGE’s long-term roadmap to achieve a total potential geothermal capacity of 3 gigawatts (GW), and is aligned with the 2025–2034 Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL).
Along with the Lumut Balai Unit 4 project, whose development also began last April, market confidence in both projects was further reinforced in June, when Lumut Balai Units 3 and 4 were officially included in the “Green Book 2026” published by the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas.