TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) is preparing new selling prices for geothermal electricity. Once a Government Regulation on the Indirect Use of Geothermal is signed, the new rates could be legalized, said Director of Geothermal Yunus Saefulhak.
According to Yunus, the prices will be set using a sliding scale scheme. The tariffs are based on the potential of each work area, ranging from 5 MW to 250 MW, with the selling price starting at US$14 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh).
"The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources' Regulation No.2014 (on the Purchase of Electricity Geothermal and Steam Power Plans) is quite effective. We have the best rates in the world," said Yunus.
He estimated that until 2019, Indonesia's geothermal power of about 1,600 MW could be sold at the new rate.
Until 2025, the government is targeting geothermal to contribute up to 7,000 MW of electricity. To date, Indonesia has only used 1,493 MW of geothermal power from the existing potential of 28,000 MW.
ROBBY IRFANY
