Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) is calling for the revival of the Bedugul geothermal power plant project in Bali following a 12-hour blackout incident that plunged the island into darkness.
The push was announced by Eniya Listiani Dewi, Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) at the ESDM Ministry. She said the central and regional governments, along with relevant stakeholders, have agreed to move forward with developing geothermal energy in Bali.
Bali holds significant potential for geothermal energy development, particularly in the Bedugul region, home to the Buyan-Bratan volcanic complex. Officials say this area could support the establishment of a geothermal power plant to help the island meet its growing electricity demands.
“This is an opportunity for Bali to have its own geothermal power plant. The Bedugul area has long been designated as a geothermal working area, and this development must be pushed forward,” said Eniya.
By advancing renewable energy initiatives like geothermal power, Bali could secure a more self-sufficient energy supply and reduce its dependence on electricity imports from neighboring Java.
Eniya emphasized that such a move could prevent a repeat of the widespread blackout that hit the island on May 2. “The recent blackout highlights the need for energy independence on the island. We’ve been urging Bali to prepare for this for some time now,” she added.
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Earlier, Jisman Hutajulu, Director General of Electricity at the Energy Ministry, confirmed that his office is still investigating the root cause of the power failure. State utility company PT PLN (Persero) said the cable malfunction severed Bali’s main power supply, triggering a cascading failure across the island.
In response, Hutajulu urged PLN to take measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, not just in Bali, but across other regions as well.
The blackout has underscored the urgency for Bali to establish its own power generation capabilities. Officials say geothermal energy could be key in securing the island’s energy future while advancing Indonesia’s commitment to clean energy.
(Raidi/Agung)
