PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE), part of the Pertamina New & Renewable Energy (PNRE) Subholding, has shown another real commitment to the development of clean geothermal energy by completing the EPCC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Commissioning) project for the Binary Organic Geothermal Power Plant. PGE Lahendong Area Rankine Cycle 500 kW Tomohon City, North Sulawesi at 8 pm Central Indonesian Time on Thursday, December 8, 2022, marked the success of the commissioning process; the 500 kW binary organic rankine cycle Geothermal Power Plant at the PGE Lahendong Area location was declared feasible for operation.
Ahmad Yani, General Manager of PGE Lahendong Area, said the success of the Binary Organic Rankine Cycle Geothermal Power Plant commissioning project demonstrated Pertamina's full support in accelerating the energy transition to achieve Net Zero Emissions (NZE) and the development of new and renewable energy (NRE). This was PGE's actual contribution to the government's goal of reducing emissions to the NZE by 2060.
PLTP Binary Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC Power Plant) is a power plant that uses organic fluid as a turbine-generator drive where the fluid is heated by utilizing energy from geothermal fluid, a method has not previously been utilized. This project started in 2021 with the Quick Win scheme to achieve the Fast Delivery Project.
President Director of PGE Ahmad Yuniarto said that the success of this project can be perceived as manifestation of the competence and determination of all PGE officers in managing geothermal energy development and this was presented as a birthday present for Pertamina and PGE.
In running the business, PGE continues to be committed to developing geothermal energy and ensuring the implementation of Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) as an integrated part of PGE's geothermal business. The implementation of these ESG aspects is an effort to provide added value and support the government programs related to the use of new, renewable energy that is environmentally friendly, especially the geothermal energy.
PGE's commitment to developing geothermal energy can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of Goal 7 (Clean and Affordable Energy), Goal 12 (Responsible Construction and Production), Goal 13 (Climate Change Management), and Goal 15 (Land Ecosystem).
PGE currently manages 13 Geothermal Working Areas (WKP) with an installed capacity of 1.8 GW, of which 672 MW are operated and managed directly by PGE and 1,205 MW are managed under a Joint Operation Contract scenario. Geothermal installed capacity in PGE working area contributes to around 82% of the total installed geothermal capacity in Indonesia, with a potential reduction of CO2 emissions of around 9.7 million tonnes of CO2 per year. (*)