RI`s geothermal sector still wide open for investment

Antara News, Thu, April 28 2011

"Geothermal energy source in Indonesia is 40 percent of the world`s, offering a good opportunity for investment and foreign investors to come into the country."

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia has huge potentials for investment in the geothermal energy development sector as until now investment in the sector still totals three percent, an official said.

"The potentials for investment in the geothermal sector is huge but not all of them have have tapped maximally," Head of the Capital Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Gita Wirjawan said here on Thursday.

He said geothermal energy source in Indonesia is 40 percent of the world`s, offering a good opportunity for investment and foreign investors to come into the country.

"Many investors have been interested to invest in the sector," he said, adding investment has so far grown in Java, Bali and Sumatra while it has not yet grown in places outside the regions.

He said investors who would invest in Indonesia would later also develop infrastructure to smoothen their projects. "Investors will later also build infrastructure to support their investment," he said.

Gita said investment in the sector would also support the government`s program in reducing gas emissions by 26 percent.

"The emission reduction target is realistic, moreover if it is supported by investment program like this," he said.

He said geothermal energy development has also been the government`s focus for maximizing the use of renewable energy.

Gita said several countries have already made investments and several others have also expressed their interest in the sector. "Countries such as India and South Korea have already made investment reaching billion US dollars in total," he said.

Editor: Heru