Rethinking Geothermal Energy in Indonesia

The document examines the impact of geothermal energy expansion in Indonesia, specifically projects funded by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. It details environmental degradation, including water depletion and pollution, and social harms such as health crises, economic losses for farmers, and the criminalization of dissent. The author advocates for a 'Feminist Just Transition' framework to ensure community consent and equity in the energy transition.

• International financial institutions (IFIs) like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) provide substantial funding to expand Indonesia's geothermal capacity, focusing on mitigating exploration risks to attract private investment. This includes the World Bank's $325m Geothermal Resource Risk Mitigation Project (GRRMP) and various ADB loans, such as $300m for PT Geo Dipa Energi and $92.6m for Supreme Energy Muara Laboh.
• Geothermal operations have caused significant water depletion and pollution across several regions. At the Ijen plant in East Java, daily water use of 6.5 million litres has depleted local sources, while fracking in Dieng, Central Java, has introduced arsenic and boron into streams. Other impacts include the pollution of the Prukut River near Mount Slamet and damage to Lake Linow in North Sulawesi.
• The expansion of geothermal energy has led to severe human health crises and economic losses. In Mandailing Natal, North Sumatra, H₂S gas leaks at the Sorik Marapi project caused five deaths in January 2021 and affected hundreds more in subsequent years. In East Nusa Tenggara, geothermal development is projected to reduce farmer income by up to IDR 470bn (approximately $27.56m), with total economic losses estimated at IDR 1.1tn ($64.5m) in the first two years of operation.
• Geothermal projects threaten Indigenous cultural heritage and are often implemented through the violation of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). Examples include the threat to the Saibatin Paksipak Sekala Brak Customary Kingdom on Mount Rajabasa and the desecration of ancestral graves in Poco Leok. Resistance is frequently met with state-sponsored violence or legal threats under Law No. 21 of 2014, which allows for prison sentences of up to seven years for obstructing exploration.

APA

Triasdian, B. (2026). Rethinking Geothermal Energy in Indonesia. Recourse. https://re-course.org/newsupdates/rethinking-geothermal-energy-in-indonesia/

Chicago

Triasdian, Beyrra. Rethinking Geothermal Energy in Indonesia. Recourse, 2026. https://re-course.org/newsupdates/rethinking-geothermal-energy-in-indonesia/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Triasdian |first1=Beyrra |title=Rethinking Geothermal Energy in Indonesia |publisher=Recourse |date=13 April 2026 |url=https://re-course.org/newsupdates/rethinking-geothermal-energy-in-indonesia/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{triasdian2026rethinking, author = {Triasdian, Beyrra}, title = {{Rethinking Geothermal Energy in Indonesia}}, institution = {Recourse}, year = {2026}, month = apr, url = {https://re-course.org/newsupdates/rethinking-geothermal-energy-in-indonesia/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }