en.Wedoany.com Reported - PT PLN (Persero), Indonesia's state electricity company, through its subsidiary PLN Nusa Tenggara Development Main Unit (Unit Induk Pembangunan Nusa Tenggara, abbreviated as UIP Nusra), has announced that the Mataloko geothermal power project in Ngada Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, has completed all infrastructure preparations and is about to enter the drilling phase.

The completed infrastructure includes four well pads (A, B, C, and D), a material storage area, and 6.7 kilometers of access roads. The construction site is located in Golewa Regency, covering villages such as Tiwotoda, Ulubelu, Wogo, Dadawea, Ratogesa, and Radabata.

Progress information from about a year ago indicated that infrastructure work had commenced. Adry A.S. Silaban, Head of Geothermal Engineering for the Mataloko Geothermal Working Area, stated that PLN and its service providers are conducting inspections regarding quality, safety, and technical specifications to ensure compliance with standards before proceeding to the next phase. The developer previously estimated that drilling would begin in 2026.

PT PLN plans to develop a project with an installed capacity of 2×10 MW at the Mataloko site. The Geothermal Working Area (WKP) was awarded by Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in 2019.

According to PLN, local workers account for 85% of the current project workforce. PLN has also conducted a series of "Pre-Free, Prior and Informed Consent (Pre-FPIC)" activities to inform local communities about the project plans and potential impacts. Avianda Edwin Fachruddin, Manager of the Nusra 2 Project Implementation Unit, stated that this approach is crucial for building harmonious relationships with communities surrounding the project.

As part of community engagement efforts, PLN is also preparing to construct clean water facilities to benefit communities near the project site.