Flores Geothermal Island – Developing a Strategy and Master Plan

Abstract

Flores Island in the East Indonesian Province of Nusa Tenggara Timur is blessed with abundant geothermal resources. Being one of the least developed areas in Indonesia it features prominently in the Indonesian Government’s long and medium-term development planning. Recent rural electrification efforts have made electricity available to almost 100% of the population of 2 million. A new 150kV transmission grid has joined several previously unconnected local grids thereby improving the ability to match growing demand with new supply in the future. With support from the Government of the United Kingdom, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources prepared a Geothermal Roadmap for Flores. The ministry has issued a regulation proclaiming Flores Island as a Geothermal Island with the Vision to establish an island development model that utilizes geothermal energy as a primary energy source and is capable of being replicated throughout regions in Indonesia with similar geothermal potential characteristics. The Vision also seeks to achieve direct use of geothermal energy within the agricultural, plantation, fishery and tourism sectors and to attract geothermal investment in the island of Flores. Under a partnership agreement (Geo-INZ) the Government of New Zealand is supporting the efforts of the Government of Indonesia to develop a Strategy and Master Plan to implement this Vision. This paper presents the progress to date and future plans of multiple stakeholders working collectively to achieve this Vision.