New Zealand, Indonesia expand cooperation in geothermal energy

New Zealand has expanded its inroads into Indonesia's geothermal energy sector with the signing of an agreement on Monday to provide specialized geothermal training for Indonesian workers, New Zealand Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce said. Joyce witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Auckland UniServices and the Indonesian Geothermal Association in Jakarta as part of a mission to promote New Zealand geothermal energy expertise in the Philippines and Indonesia. "In a world that seeks renewable energy sources to meet future demand, cooperation between our countries makes sense with both countries looking to use their considerable geothermal resources for electricity generation," Joyce said in a statement from his office. "New Zealand has a long history in the geothermal energy sector in Indonesia having financed and built the first geothermal plant at Kamojang almost 30 years ago. New Zealand has also funded programs to explore and prioritize geothermal systems across Indonesia," he said. The memorandum of understanding would open up new opportunities to work together, he said.