By: Noverica Widjojo

Indonesia has the largest geothermal energy potential in the world, with at least 29 Giga Watts of total geothermal potential. Of this amount, only about 1.2 Giga Watts has been utilized. The National Energy Policy has targeted geothermal to make up 5% of the national energy mix by 2025. But to date, Indonesia's geothermal has only contributed 1% with slow development. Various obstacles and challenges are faced in geothermal development, both in terms of policies and regulations, institutional arrangements, cross-sector coordination issues, regional autonomy, human resources, good governance issues, and technical matters (such as data accuracy, tender processes, community involvement in the development process, price negotiations, licensing, and others). Meanwhile, since 2011, the Philippines has successfully utilized more than 10,000 Giga Watts or about 14.4% of the country's total geothermal potential.

In order to promote sustainable geothermal utilization and introduce geothermal technologies developed in Indonesia and the Philippines, WWF-Indonesia's Ring of Fire Program, in collaboration with WWF-Philippines, organized a field trip for journalists and Indonesian Government representatives to one of the geothermal development sites in the Philippines, the Mount Apo geothermal power plant. The visit took place last October 28-31, 2013, and was attended by 16 participants from Indonesia, consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (2 people), the Ministry of Forestry (2 people) and journalists from 11 media (12 people).

The majority of geothermal resources are located in/near national parks and protected areas. The amount of geothermal capacity owned by the Philippines is still less than that of Indonesia. But for more than 30 years, the Philippines has been able to develop its geothermal resources to their full potential without destroying forests. The development also provides enormous benefits not only for people living around the geothermal area, but also for people living in urban areas. Until now, the geothermal power plant in Mount Apo has been able to supply electricity to almost the entire population of Mindanao Island. Aside from the clear enforcement of the law, the Philippines' success in utilizing its geothermal energy is due to the partnership between the Philippine Government, the business sector, civil society organizations and local/ethnic communities.

Through this activity, participants learned and shared about the synergy of geothermal development and forest conservation - including forest restoration programs and the development of environmental services for local communities. The new knowledge gained by the participants is expected to provide a broader understanding of the importance of geothermal development to the public.