“Indonesia has the world’s largest geothermal resources. We rank first in terms of resources, yet in terms of development, we are second; the United States remains number one,” said Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia when he opened the 12th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition (IIGCE) 2026 in Jakarta on August 19, 2026. The statement refers to Indonesia’s vast geothermal resources, which are among the largest in the world, while its geothermal development still ranks behind that of the United States.

According to data from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Indonesia has approximately 23.2 GW (23,202.77 MW) of geothermal potential. However, only 2,776.39 MW has been installed, representing about 11.6 percent of the total potential. This gap highlights the enormous scope for further development and the need to accelerate geothermal utilization, both for electricity generation and direct use. The government is pursuing this acceleration by improving regulations, providing incentives, and strengthening collaboration between the government and industry. Bahlil also urged concession holders to promptly develop their respective working areas to prevent geothermal projects from stalling at the permitting stage.

These issues were central to IIGCE 2026, held from August 19 to 21, 2026, at the Jakarta International Convention Center (JICC) in Senayan. Under the theme “Energy Self-Sufficiency for a Stronger Indonesia: Geothermal as the Baseload Driving Energy Transition and Security,” the forum brought together government officials, industry representatives, academics, and other geothermal stakeholders to discuss the role of geothermal energy in strengthening national energy security and supporting the energy transition.

The Geological Agency, through the Center for Mineral, Coal, and Geothermal Resources (PSDMBP), participated by presenting information at the Ministry of ESDM’s exhibition booth. PSDMBP showcased the distribution of Indonesia’s geothermal resources across Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java, Sulawesi, Bali and Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, and Papua. Based on data as of June 2026, these resources are distributed across 369 locations, 62 Geothermal Working Areas (WKP), and 22 Preliminary Survey and Exploration Assignments (PSPE). The booth also featured rock samples as educational materials highlighting Indonesia’s geothermal resources.

PSDMBP’s participation extended beyond the exhibition. On the afternoon of August 19, Erawan Melisano, a PSDMBP staff member, presented a concept for the direct utilization of geothermal energy to support the conservation of the Maleo bird (Macrocephalon maleo) in Sulawesi. His presentation, titled “Direct Utilization of Geothermal Energy for Maleo Bird Egg Incubation on Sulawesi Island, Indonesia,” was delivered in the Maleo Room.

The concept was prompted by the relatively limited use of geothermal energy for direct applications in Indonesia, suggesting considerable potential for expanding its use beyond electricity generation. One such opportunity is Maleo conservation. Endemic to Sulawesi, the Maleo is classified as Critically Endangered, with an estimated adult population of 8,000–14,000 individuals. Major threats include habitat loss, hunting, predation, and egg collection.

The Maleo has a distinctive reproductive strategy. Rather than incubating its eggs directly, it relies on environmental heat sources, primarily geothermal and solar heat, to incubate them. The optimal nest temperature ranges from 32°C to 35°C, while the incubation period lasts approximately 62–85 days. After hatching, the chick must dig through about 65 centimeters of soil for roughly 48 hours before reaching the surface.

This unique reproductive behavior creates an opportunity for the direct use of geothermal energy in Maleo conservation. The bird’s habitat overlaps with numerous geothermal manifestations in Sulawesi, which has an estimated geothermal potential of approximately 3,006 MWe. In Pakuli, for example, natural Maleo nesting grounds have been found near hot springs. Local communities have also attempted to construct artificial nests, but these have faced challenges, including fluctuating temperatures and the risk of flooding. Controlled geothermal heating could help maintain more stable incubation temperatures and potentially improve hatching success.

Against this background, Erawan proposed developing a geothermal-based incubator in the form of an aviary. The concept integrates data on Maleo nesting sites with geothermal manifestations, particularly hot springs. Site selection criteria include a maximum distance of two kilometers from natural nests, suitable water temperatures and flow rates, and safe pH levels. Priority would be given to threatened nesting sites, while locations too close to human settlements would be avoided.

The overlay analysis identified eight candidate sites in Central and North Sulawesi, five of which, Saluki, Pakuli, Pulu, Kadidia, and Hulurawa, have hot-spring temperatures ranging from 41 to 96°C. Compared with conventional electric incubators, geothermal-based systems would not depend directly on the electricity grid, could reduce operating costs, and could be located closer to Maleo habitats. The preliminary design consists of a 25-square-meter aviary with a 20-centimeter layer of sand and hot-water pipes designed to maintain stable incubation temperatures.

The concept demonstrates that geothermal development has potential applications beyond electricity generation, including the conservation of Indonesia’s endemic wildlife. It also highlights an opportunity to integrate energy development, environmental conservation, and community empowerment. In this way, geothermal energy could contribute not only to Indonesia’s energy transition but also to the protection of one of Sulawesi’s most distinctive and threatened species.

Panas Bumi untuk Mendukung Konservasi Maleo

“Indonesia adalah negara nomor satu di dunia yang mempunyai resource terhadap geotermal. Kita nomor satu, tetapi dalam implementasinya kita itu nomor dua, Amerika masih nomor satu,” ujar Menteri Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral Bahlil Lahadalia saat membuka The 12th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition (IIGCE) 2026 di Jakarta, 19 Agustus 2026. Pernyataan tersebut merujuk pada besarnya sumber daya panas bumi Indonesia, yang merupakan salah satu yang terbesar di dunia, sementara pengembangannya masih berada di bawah Amerika Serikat.

Berdasarkan data Kementerian ESDM, potensi panas bumi Indonesia mencapai sekitar 23,2 GW atau 23.202,77 MW. Namun, kapasitas terpasang baru 2.776,39 MW, atau sekitar 11,6 persen dari total potensi. Kondisi ini menunjukkan besarnya ruang pengembangan sekaligus perlunya percepatan pemanfaatan panas bumi, baik untuk pembangkitan listrik maupun pemanfaatan langsung. Pemerintah mendorong percepatan tersebut melalui pembenahan regulasi, pemberian insentif, serta penguatan kolaborasi antara pemerintah dan pelaku usaha. Bahlil juga meminta pemegang konsesi segera merealisasikan wilayah kerja yang telah diperoleh agar pengembangan panas bumi tidak berhenti pada tahap perizinan.

Pesan tersebut mengemuka dalam IIGCE 2026 yang berlangsung pada 19-21 Agustus 2026 di Jakarta International Convention Center (JICC), Senayan. Dengan mengusung tema “Energy Self-Sufficiency for a Stronger Indonesia: Geothermal as the Baseload Driving Energy Transition and Security”, forum ini mempertemukan pemerintah, pelaku usaha, akademisi, dan pemangku kepentingan panas bumi untuk membahas pengembangan energi panas bumi sebagai bagian dari ketahanan dan transisi energi nasional.

Badan Geologi melalui Pusat Sumber Daya Mineral, Batubara, dan Panas Bumi (PSDMBP) turut berpartisipasi dengan mengisi booth Kementerian ESDM. PSDMBP menyajikan informasi mengenai sebaran sumber daya panas bumi Indonesia di Sumatera, Kalimantan, Jawa, Sulawesi, Bali-Nusa Tenggara, serta Maluku-Papua. Berdasarkan data per Juni 2026, potensi tersebut mencakup 369 lokasi, 62 Wilayah Kerja Panas Bumi (WKP), dan 22 Penugasan Survei Pendahuluan dan Eksplorasi (PSPE). Selain informasi potensi, booth juga menampilkan sampel batuan sebagai bagian dari materi edukasi mengenai sumber daya panas bumi Indonesia. 

Partisipasi PSDMBP tidak hanya melalui pameran. Erawan Melisano, pegawai PSDMBP, turut mempresentasikan gagasan pemanfaatan langsung energi panas bumi untuk mendukung konservasi burung Maleo (Macrocephalon maleo) di Sulawesi melalui makalah berjudul “Direct Utilization of Geothermal Energy for Maleo Bird Egg Incubation on Sulawesi Island, Indonesia”. Ia menyajikannya di Ruang Maleo pada 19 Agustus 2026 sore.

Gagasan tersebut berangkat dari masih rendahnya pemanfaatan langsung panas bumi di Indonesia. Sehingga kondisi ini menunjukkan bahwa pemanfaatan panas bumi masih dapat diperluas ke berbagai sektor di luar pembangkitan listrik. Salah satu peluang tersebut terdapat pada konservasi Maleo. Burung endemik Sulawesi ini berstatus Critically Endangered, dengan populasi diperkirakan sekitar 8.000–14.000 individu dewasa. Burung ini terancam antara lain oleh kerusakan habitat, perburuan, predasi, dan pengambilan telur.

Maleo memiliki perilaku reproduksi yang unik. Burung ini tidak mengerami telurnya, tetapi memanfaatkan sumber panas dari lingkungan, terutama panas bumi dan matahari, untuk proses inkubasi. Suhu optimal sarang berkisar 32-35 °C dengan masa inkubasi sekitar 62-85 hari. Setelah menetas, anak Maleo harus menggali tanah hingga sekitar 65 cm selama kurang lebih 48 jam sebelum mencapai permukaan.

Keunikan Maleo itu membuka peluang pemanfaatan langsung panas bumi untuk mendukung konservasinya, karena habitatnya beririsan dengan sejumlah manifestasi panas bumi Sulawesi yang memiliki potensi sekitar 3.006 MWe. Di Pakuli, misalnya, sarang alami Maleo ditemukan di sekitar mata air panas. Masyarakat setempat telah mencoba membuat sarang buatan, tetapi menghadapi kendala berupa fluktuasi suhu dan risiko banjir. Padahal pemanfaatan panas bumi secara terkontrol berpotensi menjaga suhu inkubasi lebih stabil sehingga meningkatkan keberhasilan penetasan.

Berdasarkan kondisi tersebut, Erawan mengusulkan pengembangan inkubator berbasis panas bumi berbentuk aviary. Konsepnya mengintegrasikan data lokasi sarang Maleo dengan manifestasi panas bumi, terutama mata air panas. Pemilihan lokasi mempertimbangkan jarak maksimal dua kilometer dari sarang alami, suhu dan debit air yang sesuai, serta pH yang aman. Sarang yang terancam menjadi prioritas, sedangkan lokasi dekat permukiman dihindari.