Central Java Has Excess Power, Walhi Questions Urgency of Mount Ungaran Geothermal Project

A geothermal permit for Mount Ungaran has drawn criticism from Walhi because Central Java and Yogyakarta already have far more electricity capacity than they use. The environmental group says the project risks prioritizing investment over an immediate public need.

Walhi Central Java deputy director Nur Cholis cited 2025 data from PLN’s Central Java and Yogyakarta regional unit. The system has about 6,400 megawatts of installed capacity, while peak demand stands at around 4,200 megawatts. That leaves a surplus of approximately 2,200 megawatts, or 44.94 percent.

“With this oversupply, we believe Central Java has no urgent need to add a large new power plant, especially in a landscape that is important to local residents,” Nur said. He argued that the government should not impose projects through a top-down approach without listening to affected communities.

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With this oversupply, we believe Central Java has no urgent need to add a large new power plant, especially in a landscape that is important to local residents.

Walhi also pointed to opposition to a geothermal project on Mount Lawu as evidence that residents understand the importance of protecting mountain ecosystems and the springs that support farming and daily life. Nur said any development should be based on community needs and proceed only with Free, Prior and Informed Consent.

“If people in the Mount Ungaran area feel that their living space and water sources are threatened, the government must cancel the project rather than force it through for investment ambitions,” he said. Walhi urged authorities to support smaller community-based projects, such as micro-hydropower and communal solar panels, tailored to each village’s environmental capacity.

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If people in the Mount Ungaran area feel that their living space and water sources are threatened, the government must cancel the project rather than force it through for investment ambitions.