Learning from The Philippines In Developing Geothermal Energy

News Focus - LEARNING FROM THE PHILIPPINES IN DEVELOPING GEOTHERMAL ENERGY Jakarta, Oct 31 (Antara) - Indonesia is a big archipelago made up of big and small islands, rich in natural resources including oil, gas coal and other minerals. However, the country`s heavy dependence on mineral resources for energy reaching 95 percent has led to early depletion of the reserves notably oil and gas reserves. In fact many oil and gas reserves have been exhausted or depleted that resulted in shortage in energy supply in many areas in the country . Many areas in the regions still have their turn of going through a period without electricity. The government needs to be more serous in addressing the problem and take a bold move toward development of renewable sources of energy that are found in abundant in the country. Indonesia lies in geological site called ring of fire with many active volcanoes that it is blessed with the world`s largest geothermal reserves. The country has 40 percent of the world`s geothermal reserves. Based on data at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Sumatra has the largest geothermal reserves in the country but geothermal reserves are found in almost all regions excepting Papua. Geothermal reserves in the country have the potential to generate 28,994 megawatt of electricity but utilization has reached only 1,196 MW or mere 4 percent of the potential capacity. The Philippines which is also an archipelago like Indonesia, has been more advanced in the utilization of geothermal energy. The Philippine has geothermal reserves of only 14 percent of the world`s total reserves or with much lower potential capacity compared to Indonesia. However, that country has been able to generate 1,904 MW of electricity from its total potential capacity of 6,000 MW. The Philippines, which has small oil reserves, has developed geothermal power for 20 years prompted by global energy crisis in the 1970s. "We have oil but the reserve are small unlike Indonesia, which is rich in oil and coal," says Mario C Marasigan, a director at the Philippines Energy Department. The energy crisis has driven the Philippines to become a pioneer in the utilization of geothermal energy. It started in 1977 with a pilot project having a 3-MW capacity that grew to become a big power plant having a capacity of 791 MW in Leyte. The authority in geothermal power development in the Philippines is Energy Development Corporation (EDC), which accounts for 1,130 MW or 61 percent of the total capacity of geothermal power installations in that country. Among major geothermal power plants in the Philippines include ones in Mindanao with a capacity of 106 MW, and in Southern Negros with a capacity of 192.5 MW, in Bacon-Manito with a capacity of 130 MW, and in Tongonan with a capacity of 112.5 MW. Based on data in February , 2013, the Philippines has been able to utilize 14 percent of its geothermal energy potential. Mario said most geothermal power reserves are located in forest areas, adding in developing geothermal reserves, it is necessary to observe forest conservation . In the beginning protests were strong against development of geothermal power plants in forest area for fear of destruction of the forests, a senior vice president of EDC Agnes C De Jesus said. "In fact in developing geothermal energy we need to protect the forests as the forest is needed to maintain water resources for geothermal," Agnes said. Challenges Indonesia already utilized geothermal energy earlier than the Philippines. The country has utilized geothermal energy for over 30 years, but in small scale not proportional with the potential capacity. "Most of the geothermal power reserves are located in protected and conservation forest areas . That is the challenge comes from. We are restricted by the forestry law," head of the provision and evaluation of geothermal working areas of the energy and mineral resources ministry Bambang Purbiyantoro argued. However, observes said the reason for the sluggish development of geothermal power is largest investment needed for the development of geothermal energy. Another reason is the fact that the country could still rely on oil, gas and coal before the prices of fossil fuels had not soared as high as they are now. Most of the country`s geothermal power plants are located in West Java. Potential reserves that could be developed to generate geothermal power are also found in other areas in Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi. Bambang said Indonesia uses the same technology as used by the Philippines. Indonesia even uses better technology, he said, citing, a well could produce up to 10 MW-20 MW, as against 6 MW only by the Philippines. Under the forestry law, mining operations are not allowed in protected and conservation forest areas. However, Prof Suharno from the University of Lampung said geothermal energy is much friendlier to the environment and pointed out geothermal is not a mineral product. Prof Suharno shares the same view with the EDC leaders that development of geothermal energy would not cause damage to the forests , on the contrary it is necessary to preserve the forest to keep the geothermal energy capacity from diminishing. "The forest trees have to be protected to keep the geothermal grade," the professor said on Thursday. Mining operations are banned in protected and conservation forests as conservations forests are the only ones remain intact, Elni, head of the Evaluation of Utilization of Services of Conservation and Protected Forests of the Forestry, said. However, Elni said the law No. 5 of 1990 on conservation of biological resources is in the process of revision internally by the Forestry Ministry. "We are revising the part for the utilization of geothermal but with tight criteria," she said. Observers said it needs only commitment and seriousness of the government to cope with shortage in power supply in the country. The government has no reason and bottleneck to delay revising the regulation, they said.