The Chairperson of the Purnomo Yusgiantoro Center (PYC), Filda C. Yusgiantoro, participated as a panelist in the Panel Discussion titled “Accelerating Direct Use Utilization for Industrial Heat, Data Centers, Cooling, and Agriculture,” held on Tuesday, 2 December 2025, at the Morrissey Hotel Jakarta. The panel discussion was part of the launch series for the report “Future of Geothermal in Indonesia,” initiated by Project InnerSpace and the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR).
PYC also contributed substantively to the report by co-authoring two chapters that examine Indonesia’s geothermal potential, policy landscape, and pathways to accelerate geothermal development. This involvement reflects PYC’s ongoing commitment to advancing evidence-based research and policy dialogue to support Indonesia’s energy transition.
During the panel session, Filda C. Yusgiantoro highlighted the strategic role of local governments as stipulated in Presidential Regulation No. 11 of 2023 on Additional Concurrent Government Affairs in the Energy and Mineral Resources sector, particularly in the sub-sector of New and Renewable Energy. Under this regulation, local governments are authorized to issue permits for the direct use of geothermal resources, creating significant opportunities for geothermal utilization beyond electricity generation.
However, she also underscored the persistent challenges faced by local governments in exercising this authority, including limited technical capacity, human resources, and financial support. These constraints often hinder the development of complex geothermal projects, especially for direct-use applications in industry, cooling systems, agriculture, and data centers.
Filda further noted that the issuance of the Technical Guidelines for Direct Use of Geothermal Energy by the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in 2024 represents an important step forward. The guidelines demonstrate the government’s commitment to strengthening the implementation of direct-use geothermal projects and are expected to serve as a key reference for enhancing local government capacity in planning, permitting, and project execution.
Through this forum, PYC reaffirmed the importance of strong collaboration among central and local governments, research institutions, the private sector, and international partners to accelerate geothermal direct-use development in Indonesia. Such efforts are critical not only for reducing emissions and strengthening energy resilience, but also for supporting regional economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development across multiple sectors.
PYC’s participation in this event further underscores its role as a strategic partner in advancing research-based policymaking, fostering multi-stakeholder dialogue, and promoting inclusive and sustainable energy transition solutions for Indonesia.
