Environmental Impact Assessment of the Awibengkok Geothermal Field Development, Gunung Salak, Indonesia

Abstract

Like many geothermal prospects around the world, the Awibengkok Geothermal Field, currently being developed Unocal and Pertamina about km south of Jakarta, is in an environmentally sensitive area. The developmentis mostly within a protected forest area with a nature reserve and two tea plantations on its margins. Few people will be displaced by the development since there are no permanent residents in the planned field but, because of the low population density in adjacent areas, effects on residents will be particularly noticeable. The environmental impact study prepared for the project concludes, however. that the project will have a very positive social impact and that the environmental management and monitoring programs should both minimize the ecological impact of the geothermal development and provide data needed to improve the security of much of the surrounding natural habitat.