en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Indonesian government is preparing to invest IDR 4.8 trillion (approximately USD 266.87 million) to restore the Sarulla geothermal power plant in North Sumatra to its full installed capacity of 330 MW. The plant currently operates at only 220 MW due to changes in steam pressure within the geothermal reservoir.
Yuliot, Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, stated that the government is completing the administrative procedures required for the capacity restoration project, which are expected to be finalized by October 2026; the capacity enhancement work will be carried out between 2027 and 2028.
The Sarulla geothermal complex has a total installed capacity of 330 MW, consisting of three units, which were commissioned successively between 2017 and 2018. The first unit, Silangkitang (SIL), began operations in March 2017; the second unit, Namora-I-Langit 1 (NIL-1), was commissioned in October 2017; and the third unit, Namora-I-Langit 2 (NIL-2), was commissioned in May 2018, completing the energy complex. The facility is operated by Sarulla Operations Ltd. (SOL), a consortium comprising PT Medco Power Indonesia, Itochu Corporation, Ormat Technologies, Kyushu Electric Power Company, and INPEX.
In addition to restoring full capacity, there are plans for further development of the Sarulla geothermal field. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) stated that once capacity is restored to optimal levels, it will support greater utilization of the Sarulla geothermal potential. Multiple technical documents and MEMR documents indicate that the reservoir has a potential of up to 1,100 MW.
Dr. Jonius Taripar Parsaoran Hutabarat, Regent of North Tapanuli (Tapanuli Norte), stated that the Sarulla geothermal facility could also provide heat for agricultural dryers to boost local economic growth. The Pahae region has significant corn and coffee industries, and utilizing geothermal energy could help farmers improve product quality, optimize downstream processing, and ultimately increase their incomes.
