Star Energy starts exploration drilling in Hamiding geothermal site, Indonesia
Regent's Office, North Halmahera, Maluku, Indonesia (source: Government of North Halmahera (North Halmahera), Indonesia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
Carlo Cariaga
20 Oct 2025
Star Energy Geothermal has started exploration drilling at the Hamiding geothermal site in North Halmahera, Indonesia, eyeing 50-MW of initial development.
PT Star Energy Geothermal, a subsidiary of PT Barito Renewables Energy Tbk (BREN), has officially spudded its first geothermal exploration well at the Hamiding site in North Halmahera, North Maluku, Indonesia. The company is targeting around 50 MW of initial development at the site, with a total planned capacity of 300 MW.
The goal for the first exploration well (HMD-A) will be to verify the existence of a geothermal resource at the site. The Hamiding site is projected to have a potential capacity between 275 MW and 550 MW. The Hamiding PSPE was awarded to Star Energy following a competitive selection process back in 2016.
“This exploration drilling activity is part of the Preliminary Survey and Exploration Assignment (PSPE) granted by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) in 2018,” the company said in an official statement.
“Hamiding’s geothermal potential has long been known, and today we are witnessing concrete steps to develop it. The local government welcomes and fully supports this initiative,” commented Assistant I for Government Affairs Frederik Nelson Sahetapy, representing the Regent of North Halmahera.
PT Star Energy also holds the survey and exploration rights for the Suoh Sekincau geothermal site in Sumatra. Just a few weeks ago, the company announced the completion of a retrofit project for Units 4, 5, and 6 of the Salak geothermal power plant in West Java, thus increasing the total installed capacity by 7.7 MW.
Source: Kontan and Bisnis.com
