The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has launched the conversion of a portion of ex-mining land into fields to grow energy-producing plants or utilize it to become a renewable energy-based power plant.
Acting Director of Mineral and Coal Engineering and Environmental Director of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Sujatmiko revealed, at least three types of utilization had been mapped for the program. Namely to support the development of biofuels, solar power plants (PLTS) or photovoltaics and for the development of biomass.
"The Minister (ESDM) gave us direction, especially coal mines applying the concept of energy back to energy, by utilizing ex-mining land. So there is a recovery for the ecological function, also for the renewable energy function," Sujatmiko said in a webinar held on Friday. (7/17).
Sujatmiko did not disclose in detail how much ex-mining land area could be converted, nor how much potential for renewable energy it could produce. However, he gave an overview of a number of mines that could be utilized for this program.
Sujatmiko has not revealed how much land has been or is ready to be used as PLTS, and the potential electricity generated from PLTS in the former mining land. But he again gave a picture that in 1 hectare of ex-mining land, at least it could produce 1 Megawatt (MW) of electricity from PLTS.
"For PLTS, the rule of thumb is 1 ha of land that can produce approximately 1 MW. The question later on how much is built depends on local needs, and electricity from renewable also adjusts RUPTL," said Sujatmiko.
Source : industri.kontan.co.id