The Lumut Balai Unit-3 Geothermal Project, led by PT PERTAMINA GEOTHERMAL ENERGY in Muara Enim, Indonesia, is a $33 million initiative crucial for meeting South Sumatra’s rapidly growing energy demand and supporting Indonesia’s Net Zero Emissions target. Set to deliver 55 MWe of baseload renewable power by 2029, the project will electrify 60,000 remote households and displace 300,000 tons of CO2 annually by saving 2,600 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

The project’s major breakthrough was the implementation of a fully integrated digital workflow that transformed the geothermal exploration process. By replacing manual methods with Bentley’s dedicated geothermal tools—Leapfrog Geothermal, Oasis montaj, and Volsung—the team achieved unprecedented efficiency and risk reduction. The 3D geological and conceptual reservoir models, created and refined in real-time, formed the foundation for a customized Play Fairway Analysis (PFA) workflow.

This data-driven approach allowed the Lumut Balai team to dramatically enhance well targeting, reducing the overall drilling risk from 48% to just 15%. This increased confidence led to significant financial returns, including a 17% reduction in drilling cost, saving USD 1.5 million per well, and a total saving of USD 125,000$ in operational expenses. Furthermore, the integrated digital process shortened the entire feasibility study phase by 50%, reducing it from 12 months to 6 months, ensuring the project stays on track to deliver clean energy by 2029. This efficient, risk-informed development model sets a new standard for geothermal projects in Indonesia.