PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) as part of the Subholding Pertamina New & Renewable Energy (PNRE) has successfully implemented one of the important agendas to maintain and improve operational reliability in one of its operational areas, namely the PGE Lahendong Area in North Sulawesi.
The agenda is the implementation of the Turn Around Geothermal Power Plant (PLTP) Unit 5 and Unit 6 Lahendong. The Turn Around PLTP Unit 5 and Unit 6 which were targeted to be carried out for 21 days for each PLTP unit turned out to be successful in only 18 days for each PLTP unit.
The startup of PLTP Unit 5 was carried out on February 19, 2022, while the startup of PLTP Unit 6 was successfully carried out on March 7, 2022. Currently PLTP Unit 5 and Unit 6 with a capacity of 2 x 20 MW have fully operated again to supply electricity supply in North Sulawesi and Gorontalo.
"Our commitment in this Turn Around is to implement it according to the Turn Around Excellent target, namely no accidents, best quality, on time, and right on cost," explained General Manager of PGE Lahendong Area, Ahmad Yani, on the PLTP Unit 6 startup agenda last year.
It should be noted that the Turn Around activity is a periodic maintenance of the geothermal power plant as a whole which aims to maintain future production performance and is carried out regularly every 4 years. This is also done with full commitment to the HSSE Golden Rules and the COVID-19 protocol to ensure aspects of safety, occupational health and environmental protection.
Turn Around PLTP Units 5 and 6 involved 338 workers both from outside the work location and local workers around the location as an effort to involve local workers in Minahasa. This is the challenge in implementing the Turn Around by involving the number of workers, the duration of time for 24 hours non-stop and in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic.
PGE Area General Manager Lahendong Ahmad Yani added that the success of this Turn Around was thanks to the high commitment of PGE officers as well as the support of surrounding stakeholders such as the local government to the COVID-19 task force who also supervised and helped smooth the Turn Around activity.
"We express our highest appreciation to all parties who have actively participated in supporting our activities in Minahasa so that the synergy between PGE, Contractors and the Government can be realized during Turn Around activities," he concluded.
PGE continues to be committed to geothermal development and ensures that the implementation of Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) becomes an integrated part of PGE's geothermal business. The implementation of these ESG aspects is an effort to provide added value and support PGE to government programs related to the use of new, renewable energy that is environmentally friendly, especially geothermal.
In addition, the development of geothermal energy supply carried out by PGE is also a form of PGE's support and commitment in achieving sustainable development, especially the 7th goal (clean and affordable energy), 12 (responsible construction and production), 13 (climate change management), and 15 (land ecosystems) in the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).
Currently, PGE Lahendong Area with a generating capacity of 120 MW has supported approximately 28% of the electricity needs of the people in North Sulawesi and Gorontalo from environmentally friendly energy sources, namely geothermal energy. Indonesia itself is currently ranked second in geothermal development in the world with a total installed capacity of 2,276 MW, and the contribution from the PGE Working Area is 82% of the total installed geothermal capacity in Indonesia, which consists of 672 MW which is self-operated and 1,205 MW. carried out through Joint Operation Contracts.
