Jakarta, Sept 25 (Antara) - Indonesia, believed to have the largest source of ocean thermal energy, is conducting a research to tap it for the welfare of its people.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Indonesia has the world's largest ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) potential found in at least 17 locations across the country.
This was revealed by Head of Center for Research and Development of Marine Geology (P3GL) of the ESDM Ediar Usman in a written statement received by Antara in Jakarta on Sunday.
According to Usman, the potential of ocean thermal energy in Indonesia's maritime territory is forecast to have the capacity to generate some 240 gigawatts (GW) of electricity. The Flores waters in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) are one of the regions having OTEC potential.
Hence, the ESDM is deploying the P3GL research ship Geomarin III to conduct a survey on evaluating sea temperatures in Flores in the north of Pulau Lembata Island of NTT Province. The Geomarin III research ship will conduct the survey from September 24 to October 7, 2017.
The results obtained from evaluating sea temperatures will serve as a basis for deciding further expansion work and investment in electrical energy, which will be produced from the OTEC potential.
Indonesia has the largest OTEC potential in the world, as it is situated on the equator. The OTEC potential is scattered in the western coast of Sumatra, southern Java, Sulawesi, North Maluku, Bali, and NTT.
The P3GL has studied and examined the OTEC potential in 17 locations, with a capacity of 41 GW. The research to be conducted on the OTEC potential in the waters of Lembata will cover an area of 2,200 nautical miles.
"Lembata has an estimated economic potential to supply one MW of electricity through a pipe network, at a depth of 500-700 meters below sea level," he noted.
Usman explained that OTEC is part of the renewable energy sourced from the differences in sea water temperatures and can be easily found in the tropical marine waters.
"The OTEC will be exploited in an effort to develop new sources of renewable energy to support the nation's energy security," he noted.
This energy will generate electricity and pure water through evaporation of sea water. Utilization of OTEC will have a positive impact on the economy of the surrounding community in the field of fisheries, as it will provide nutrients to marine life at sea.
Geomarin III, which is a sophisticated marine geology research ship, has a two-dimensional survey capacity in the geological, geophysical, and oceanographic fields.
Hence, the survey conducted by Geomarin III is also an effort to identify the sedimentary basin to support the preparation of the Oil and Gas Work Area.
Earlier, Geomarin III had conducted a survey in the Arafura Sea, Papua, to evaluate the potential oil and gas reserves in the area.
The ESDM Ministry said Geomarin III has conducted a study on potential oil and gas reserves in the Arafura Sea from August 21 to September 20, 2017.
"The provisional results of the study indicated that the waters of Arafura Sea have oil and gas reserves," Usman noted.
Usman made the remark during a meeting of business partners of the research ship Goemarin III at Tenau Seaport of Kupang, NTT, on Friday (Sept 22).
The meeting was also attended by National Energy Council (DEN) Secretary General Saleh Abdurrahman, two DEN members Syamsir Abduh and Pudji Utoro, and two businesspersons, among others.
Usman said that in the Arafura Sea, Geomarin III, which is operated by P3GL, conducted a seismic survey at a length of 1,300 kilometers (km) and a gravity meter, as well as geomagnetic surveys, with a respective length of 1,700 km.
Based on the study, the sample taken from the Arafura Sea contained organic carbon.
"The gravity meter and geomagnetic readings showed the existence of the Akimegah basin, which thickens offshore towards Papua in the north, where its oil and gas prospects are more on land," he said.
He remarked that the results of the survey will be compiled in a report, complete with its map and atlas of the seismic recordings.
The survey in Arafura was part of the preparations for conducting a study on the OTEC potential in Flores Sea in North Lembata Island, NTT.
The Geomarin III survey targets in the Arafura waters include conducting bathymetry and taking sub-bottom profile measurements, seabed multichannel seismic/MCS records, gravity meter, geomagnetic, and seabed sediment sampling.
Amid the country's declining oil production, surveys of this type are important. Hence, in order to increase survey activities, the National Energy Council (DEN) supports the idea to procure the survey ship Geomarin IV.
According to Syamsir of DEN, the ship is needed to collect seismic data on oil and gas in Indonesia. Most importantly, the oil and gas production continues to drop.
"On the other hand, oil consumption continues to increase that has compelled the country to increase imports of the commodity," Samsir noted. ***3***(A014/INE)
EDITED BY INE(T.A014/A/BESSR/A. Abdussalam) 25-09-2017 18:48:4 |
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