KSB in Indonesia: Unlocking central Java's potential for natural energies

To speed up Indonesia’s development of geothermal energy, the nation's government is taking serious steps by making PT Geo Dipa Energi (Persero) a Special Mission Vehicle aimed at expanding geothermal power plant development.

According to data from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), the installed capacity of geothermal power plants in 2022 nears 10% of the total geothermal potential of Indonesia, which is approximately 23 gigawatts.

Dieng, located in Central Java, serves as one of Geo Dipa Energi's smaller Geothermal Power Plant (PLTP) project sites. Its mountainous terrain and diverse geothermal manifestations like hot springs and alteration rocks highlight its potential as a geothermal energy source.

The estimated energy potential in the Dieng Geothermal Field is 300 MWe. Currently, Dieng Unit 1 is integrated into the Java-Madura-Bali interconnection system. Efforts are underway to enhance the power plant's technical capabilities and develop Dieng Unit 2 and 3 projects, each at 60 MWe capacity.

PT Geo Dipa Energi has set itself an ambitious 1,020 MW by 2035 development target to increase Indonesia's geothermal electricity production. A step towards this goal: A large-scale pump replacement to increase performance capacity and service life in the company's Unit Dieng plant.

The downtimes were due to the special operating conditions on site: Existing pumps were having major issues of scaling due to an aggressive geothermal brine. This harsh environment required an extensive cleaning procedure every 4 weeks to continue operations. The commissioned pump supplier not only had to be able to provide the required application in brine water. In addition, the tender requested extensive supervision and commissioning as well as ongoing operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting indoor and site training.

Geo Dipa Energi opted for KSB for three reasons, despite renowned competition: Our portfolio was able to cover all the technical requirements. Additionally, our impressive sales and after-sales service team were able to resolve the minor installation challenges encountered in the process immediately. Last but not least, we offered more than competitive pricing for our package of solutions and even outperformed our own goals set for the project. Moreover, our specially designed pumps for geothermal brine applications achieved an increased service life of 12 weeks, tripling the previous frequency for our customer.

Place: Dieng, Central Java, Indonesia

Client: PT Geo Dipa Energi (Persero)

Area of application: Brine Water Liquid Pumps