Faculty of Engineering of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and New Zealand cooperate in the utilization of geothermal energy in Indonesia. Such cooperation is implemented in the form of transfer of knowledge with New Zealand educational and research institutions in geothermal field, Geothermal NewZealand Science (GNS) and The University of Auckland. "We realize Indonesia’s enormous geothermal potentials that have not been used optimally. New Zealand will send lecturers to UGM to develop geothermal capacity building," said Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Dr. Tumiran, after UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi, M. Eng, Ph.D, received New Zealand Ambassador to Indonesia, David Taylor, on Monday (12/7).
The Member of the National Energy Council said that in New Zealand the utilization of geothermal energy is relatively advanced but small compared to the utilization in Indonesia. "New Zealand has only utilized 600 Megawatts, Indonesia has used almost 1200 MW," he said, adding that geothermal potential of Indonesia reaches 28 thousand MW.
The Indonesian government's seriousness to take a look at the geothermal energy potential, said Tumiran, is due to soaring prices of petroleum and coal. "This energy used to be not utilized because of cheap oil and coal prices. But after the price increase, the government sought to utilize this energy. We hope that in 2025, as much as 9500 Megawatts of geothermal energy will be installed," said the UGM electricity expert.
In the meeting between the Ambassador with the Rector, the two agreed to develop more extensive cooperation, including possible cooperation in disaster management and the environment.