GtPP in Pasaman nears PSPE drilling phase on June 12

The progress of the construction of the geothermal power plant (GtPP) in Bonjol District, Pasaman Regency, West Sumatra Province has entered preparation stage for the Preliminary Survey and Exploration Assignment (PSPE) drilling by Medco Group subsidiary PT Medco Geothermal Sumatera (MGSu) on June 12, 2025.

Pasaman Regency Government officials immediately went to the project's site to ensure that all stages of the largest investment project in the region were running as they should. Pasaman Regent Welly Suhery also requested for all issues that continues to affect the progress of the Bonjol geothermal power plant construction to be re-evaluated.

"Try to change the handling pattern, classify how it should be [resolved], then resolve it case-by-case. Don't generalize the problem," he stated.

In principle, said Welly, the local community must not be harmed or persecuted by the company as it continues to operate in the region, directing the enterprise to continue to follow applicable legal principles. He also noted that various regional governments, including the one he leads, are striving to raise incoming investments to their respective regions since the Indonesian government's austerity affects the General (DAU) and Special Allocation Funds (DAK) provided for them.

"We need investment to come into Pasaman to support sustainable development, but regional stability must be maintained. For that, we ask for understanding and support from all stakeholders. If there is a problem, let's find a solution together [so both] investors and the local community reap the benefits," Welly said.

On behalf of the local government, Welly also expressed his gratitude to MGSu for investing in Pasaman Regency.

"I have spoken with the PT Medco Director and requested for teh company to prioritize Pasaman workers, especially those in Bonjol, during the project's implementation," said the regent.

MGSu Site Manager Sigit Widiatmoko revealed during his first presentation to Welly that MGSu previously planned to start operating in Bonjol in 2019, but it was delayed to November 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In 2023, we started with field data collection, then it continued in March 2024 with the land acquisition socialization stage, and the construction of the road to the drilling location began in December 2024," explained Sigit.

He added that the project has entered the 'parklane' stage, or the starting point for the first drilling, in June 2025. The results on how much steam pressure and geothermal potential the Bonjol District geothermal reserve produces will be obtained at this stage. Sigit projected for the temperature of the Bonjol geothermal reserve to be in the range of 150°C maximum, or a 'medium low' level, with an electrical energy capacity of up to 35 kilovolt (kv).

"This hot steam energy will drive the turbine to generate electricity. However, the completion of the process will still take a long time of up to 7 years, or [finished] by around 2032," he explained.

Sigit elaborated that the drilling will be carried out in two planned locations, namely Bonjol 1 (Kampung Tampang) and Bonjol 3 (Sungai Limau).

"The construction of the well footprint was carried out last March, including the construction of a mud waste processing pond from drilling," Sigit further said.

He revealed that the depth of drilling in the initial stage reached 1 km into the earth. On the other hand, Pasaman Regency Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services (DPMPTSP) Head Yusnimar divulged that the total value of MGSu's geothermal investment to the regency reached Rp4 trillion.

"The investment value is very large for the Pasaman Regency area. Up to the progress of PSPE, It is estimated to have costed Rp150 billion until the [current progress of the] PSPE stage," said Yusnimar.