High Cost Hampers Geothermal Exploration
30 July 2015 18:54 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Banjarnegara - The exploration for geothermal energy in the Dieng highlands has been hampered by high cost of drilling that could reach up to US$7 million for each geothermal well, PT Geo Dipa Energy general manager Dodi Herman said.
The high cost of investment was needed to drill a geothermal well with a diameter of 10-12 inches and a depth of 2,500-2,700 meters.
"The drilling would reach below the sea level," Dodi said on Thursday, July 30, 2015.
Dodi explained that geothermal energy reserves in the Dieng Highlands could produce up to 400 megawatts of electricity. However, currently ongoing exploration efforts had only managed to harness 60 megawatts of the total potential.
According to Dodi, the investment poses high risks since there is no guarantee that the drilling would yield results. Therefore, investors have taken extra careful measures, such as thorough surveys, before conducting explorations.
ARIS ANDRIANTO