Communities near Mount Ungaran in Indonesia’s Central Java province have voiced opposition to revived geothermal power project plans. They cite concerns that the project could threaten local water supplies and farming livelihoods. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources recently allowed state-owned electricity utility PLN to conduct geothermal exploration and development at Mount Ungaran.
Local opposition to the plans began in 2008 when the ministry first designated Ungaran, an active volcano, as a geothermal working area. Residents expressed worries that the development could lead to a decline or pollution of water sources, thereby affecting agriculture. Indonesia possesses significant geothermal energy potential, estimated at 23.2 gigawatts, ranking it among countries with the largest geothermal resources globally.
Source: Mongabay