Indonesian Govt reduces geothermal energy plan target  

The Jakarta Post reports that Indonesia has lowered its target for geothermal power production - Govt reduces geothermal energy contribution.

Indonesia has revised downward the planned capacity for geothermal-fired power plants under the second 10,000 megawatt (MW) crash program by about 700 MW as some of the initially proposed projects cannot be finished within the program time frame.

The government initially planned to produce as much as 4,733 MW under the second 10,000 MW power program from geothermal power. But in its latest report, state power utility PLN said the electricity supply to be generated from geothermal energy will be reduced to between 3,975 MW and 4,077 MW.

"After evaluation, we conclude some of the geothermal power plants will be difficult to complete by 2014, because the working areas are still green field sites. Therefore some units will be taken out of the program," Electricity and Energy Utilization director general J. Purwono told reporters Tuesday.

The 10,000 MW electricity project is planned to make up for the lack of investment in power plants in the last decade which has contributed to the power shortages across the country.