Kalianda, Lampung (ANTARA News) - The geothermal power plant (PLTP) in South Lampung regency was slated to start operating in 2015 with a capacity of 220 meegawatts.

South Lampung regency secretary Sutono said in Kalianda on Wednesday the geothermal power plant in Gunung Rajabasa, Rajabasa sub-district, will be run by PT Supreme Energy Rajabasa.

He said the exploitation of the geothermal energy will produce electricity equal to the power produced by the power plant in Tarahan, Lampung, and increase the power supplies in Lampung.

Now the government has started conducting researches for exploration for a design like PT Cevron Energy in Garut regency, because the location has become a reference.

The energy will be sold to state power company PT PLN as the sold buyer," he said.

Then the government will control the use of the geothermal energy and the managing company will submit routine reports to the government.

In addition, the use will contribute to the regions on the basis of profit sharing of the management in certain periods of time.

Technically, he said, the company will drill 12 points to obtain the geothermal energy and predicted to cost at least Rp80 billion until the production stage.

The company planned to accelerate the building of the source to produce electric energy.

He said a geothermal power plant has several superiorities as it is using renewable basic material or steam for reprocessing without producing wastes to the environment.

Then the operation of the geothermal power plant is clean and environmentally friendly because there is no burning and therefore would not cause air pollution or harm local water resources.

He also said that PT Supreme Energy Rajabasa will later absorb 62 thousand workers, and thus increasing the welfare of the local population. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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