Meninjau ulang energi panas bumi: Antara solusi iklim dan risiko sosial-lingkungan

This report by Trend Asia examines the social and environmental risks associated with geothermal energy expansion in Indonesia. While promoted by international financial institutions as a low-carbon climate solution, the document argues that current funding models prioritize corporate financial risk over the resulting water scarcity, pollution, and human rights violations affecting local and indigenous communities.

• Indonesia has an estimated geothermal resource of 23.7 GW, but only 1.3 GW has been utilized. There are 356 identified geothermal locations along the Indonesian Ring of Fire, with 57 locations (approximately 3.4 GW capacity) currently under active development.
• International Financial Institutions (IFIs) provide significant funding to mitigate exploration risks for corporations. The World Bank approved a USD 325 million loan for the Geothermal Resource Risk Mitigation Project (GRRMP) in 2019, supported by USD 127.5 million from the Clean Technology Fund and USD 150 million from the Indonesian government. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided USD 300 million to PT Geo Dipa Energi in 2020, an additional USD 180 million in 2025 for two 55 MW plants in Java, and USD 92.6 million for Supreme Energy Muara Laboh's expansion in West Sumatra.
• Geothermal operations cause severe water depletion and pollution. One megawatt of electricity can consume between 6,500 and 15,000 liters of water. At the 35 MW Ijen plant in East Java, daily water use reaches 6.5 million liters, causing over 200 households in Watu Capil, Margahayu, and Kebun Jeruk to report turbid and bitter spring water in 2024. In Dieng, Central Java, fracking has introduced arsenic and boron into rivers, while in North Sulawesi, the Lahendong plant caused damage to Lake Linow, evidenced by the loss of biological indicator insects known as sayok and komo.
• Geothermal projects have led to fatal accidents and hazardous emissions. In Sorik Marapi, North Sumatra, hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) gas leaks since 2021 resulted in the deaths of five women in January 2021 and affected over 150 residents through subsequent poisoning incidents in 2022, 2024, and 2025. In Mataloko, East Nusa Tenggara, a 1998 blowout created mudflows that continue to damage farmland.
• The expansion of geothermal energy causes significant economic losses for agricultural communities and exacerbates gender inequality. In Wae Sano, Sakoria, and Ulumbu (East Nusa Tenggara), projected losses for farmers are Rp470 billion (USD 27.56 million), with total economic losses estimated at Rp1.1 trillion (USD 64.5 million) during the first two years of operation. Women bear a disproportionate burden as water scarcity forces them to travel further for resources or seek precarious migrant work abroad.
• Geothermal projects threaten indigenous cultural heritage and sacred sites. In Atadei, East Nusa Tenggara, odors from wells hinder the Tun Kwar ritual. In Lampung, the Gunung Rajabasa project threatens the ancestral sanctuary and sacred pillars of the Saibatin Paksipak Sekala Brak Indigenous Kingdom. In Poco Leok, Flores, the Ulumbu plant expansion is opposed because drilling risks desecrating ancestral graves and sacred springs.
• Opposition to geothermal projects is met with legal threats and state-backed violence. Law No. 21 of 2014 allows for up to seven years in prison and fines of Rp70 billion for those obstructing exploration. In Gunung Gede, residents from 15 villages facing water supply threats were legally targeted. In Poco Leok, PLN teams escorted by armed police and military engaged in brutal clashes and arbitrary arrests of protesting villagers.
• The report criticizes the lack of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), noting that Environmental Impact Assessments (AMDAL) are often only provided in English, preventing local communities from making informed decisions.

APA

Triasdian, B. (2026). Meninjau ulang energi panas bumi: Antara solusi iklim dan risiko sosial-lingkungan. Trend Asia. https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Geothermal_Indonesia_BAHASA.pdf

Chicago

Triasdian, Beyrra. Meninjau ulang energi panas bumi: Antara solusi iklim dan risiko sosial-lingkungan. Trend Asia, 2026. https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Geothermal_Indonesia_BAHASA.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Triasdian |first1=Beyrra |title=Meninjau ulang energi panas bumi: Antara solusi iklim dan risiko sosial-lingkungan |publisher=Trend Asia |date=April 2026 |url=https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Geothermal_Indonesia_BAHASA.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{triasdian2026meninjau, author = {Triasdian, Beyrra}, title = {{Meninjau ulang energi panas bumi: Antara solusi iklim dan risiko sosial-lingkungan}}, institution = {Trend Asia}, year = {2026}, month = apr, url = {https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Geothermal_Indonesia_BAHASA.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }