Jakarta, INTI - Indonesia’s geothermal energy potential remains underutilized, according to Prof. Lambok M. Hutasoit, a hydrogeology expert from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).
He noted that Indonesia’s geographical position along the Pacific Ring of Fire provides abundant geothermal resources. West Java and several other provinces hold substantial geothermal reserves.
The government therefore needs to strengthen public education about the safety of geothermal power plant operations. This is important to address concerns about the availability of clean water for household use.
Geothermal Technology Safety and Resource Management
Lambok emphasized that geothermal power plant operations do not deplete the shallow groundwater sources used by local communities. This is because geothermal fluids are extracted from reservoirs at depths of up to 2,000 meters, which are isolated from groundwater aquifers.
Compared with the thousands of kilometers separating Earth’s surface from its core, these drilling depths remain relatively shallow.
Lambok also explained that sustainable geothermal production is maintained through reinjection, a process in which residual fluids are returned to the geothermal reservoir.
This approach is complemented by the protection of groundwater recharge areas, supported by findings from water isotope analysis studies conducted in Wayang Windu, West Java.
Kamojang Geothermal Power Plant in West Java provides a long-standing example of geothermal energy utilization in Indonesia. The facility began operating in 1983 and became one of the country’s pioneering commercial geothermal power plants.
Indonesia’s Geothermal Energy Potential Offers Significant Room for Growth
A visit by Tina Talisa, Pertamina Patra Niaga Commissioner and Special Advisor to the Vice President, highlighted the operational performance of the Kamojang geothermal facility.
The plant currently operates five generating units with a combined capacity of 235 megawatts (MW). According to the report, its decades of operation demonstrate the potential for geothermal energy development to coexist with surrounding communities and the environment.
Data from Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) estimates the country’s total geothermal potential at approximately 23.2 gigawatts (GW). However, only around 2.78 GW of installed generating capacity has been developed to date.
This gap highlights the substantial opportunity to expand geothermal energy utilization in Indonesia and strengthen the country’s transition toward a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
Conclusion
Indonesia has significant untapped geothermal energy potential that could accelerate its transition to clean electricity. According to ITB expert Prof. Lambok M. Hutasoit, proper resource management, reinjection systems, and public education are essential to ensuring safe and sustainable geothermal development while addressing concerns about household water supplies.
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