In collaboration with the Central Java Provincial Government, the UGM Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM) and PT Geo Dipa Energi/GDE (Persero) have proposed designating the Dieng Plateau as a National Geopark.
This proposal was initiated with a focus group discussion (FGD) on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, at GDE Dieng, Wonosobo, Central Java, attended by representatives from the central government, local governments, tourism industry, geothermal industry, academics, and community leaders.
Dr. Pri Utami, UGM’s Geological Engineering lecturer and geothermal expert, stated that Dieng’s visitors can observe ongoing geological processes, particularly hydrothermal activity, which creates unique landscapes and forms renewable energy sources.
“I believe it is important for geological science to transform legends about geothermal activity in Dieng into scientific explanations. This is a tribute to our ancestors who embedded environmental preservation values in Dieng long before geothermal science and technology developed,” said Dr. Utami in a statement to the press on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024.
Yudistian Yunis, President and Director of PT GDE (Persero), emphasized that multi-stakeholder collaboration is crucial for creating the ecosystem needed to achieve energy independence and environmentally conscious local economic activities, such as tourism and geothermal-based agriculture.
Herdian Ardi Febrianto, General Manager of PT GDE Dieng, mentioned that using geothermal energy for electricity generation is a unique advantage for the geopark element, as it serves as an educational tool for environmental preservation through clean and renewable energy use.
He noted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in the geothermal industry.
With artificial intelligence technology, the younger generation must continue to master and develop knowledge.
In managing natural resources, including geothermal energy, the human conscience weighs and determines actions in accordance with humanitarian values.
“We invite UGM’s Geological Engineering students to research geothermal areas in Dieng that have not yet been fully developed,” he said.
Dr. Utami added that UGM’s Geological Engineering students also visited the Dieng Geothermal Work Area on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, to study the geology of the only geothermal field operating in Central Java.
“Students also explored opportunities for improving the efficiency of geothermal energy use and the need for land-use planning in geothermal areas, which have also become tourist destinations and agricultural zones,” she said.
Author: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang