Review on Geothermal Direct Use Application as an Alternative Approach in Community Engagement at Early Exploration Phase in Indonesia

Abstract

There are several challenges that have been identified for geothermal development in Indonesia; one of them is the rejection by the local community that hinders the exploration or development phase. Common practices by field developer to engage with the local community in the early exploration phase is by holding socialization events and involving local people in exploration activities. However, these approaches have several limitations such as short exploration project period and the non-continuous nature of the socialization event, thus less effective and unable to give adequate understanding to the local people regarding the geothermal project. An alternative approach to current practice that has been emerging recently and discussed in previous studies and publications is by utilizing and creating geothermal direct use facility to engage with the local community during the early phase of exploration. This approach is considered a promising idea, especially considering that currently geothermal direct use application in Indonesia is under-utilized compared to our vast geothermal potential, even compared with other countries. The purpose of this study is to summarize and discuss the current geothermal direct use applications in Indonesia and around the world. These various geothermal direct use application facilities are analyzed, and a preliminary concept of geothermal direct use as an alternative approach in community engagement during early exploration phase in Indonesia is proposed.