PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy Tbk (PGE) has started work on the Ulubelu Green Hydrogen Pilot Project, marking its push into a broader hydrogen business. The facility will draw on geothermal power and use modern electrolysis to turn out up to 100 kilograms of hydrogen a day, with efficiency levels ranging from 82 to 88 percent.
The facility is not only intended for production. It will also serve as a hub for technological research, feasibility testing, and mapping of market potential as PGE positions itself in the clean energy transition. Company President Director Julfi Hadi described the groundbreaking as a turning point in PGE’s business strategy.
“This groundbreaking is the first step for PGE to build an integrated green business chain from upstream to downstream. This facility is not only an innovation center but also a model that can be replicated in other geothermal working areas, while also opening up opportunities to accelerate off-grid solutions for transportation and low-carbon industries. Going forward, PGE’s development roadmap also includes the downstreaming of green ammonia and green methanol as future energy solutions,” he explained.
Government officials backed the project. Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Yuliot Tanjung, said: “Green hydrogen is a low-emission alternative energy source that is believed to be a breakthrough in the global energy transition. This project supports the achievement of the national renewable energy mix target while strengthening energy security towards Net Zero Emissions by 2060,”
Deputy Minister of Investment and Downstream Development and Deputy Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Todotua Pasaribu, also highlighted its wider impact. “Initiatives like this not only provide environmentally friendly energy, but are also part of the national downstream strategy to strengthen industrial competitiveness, energy security, and the long-term economy,” he said.
PGE’s parent company added its support. President Director of PT Pertamina (Persero), Simon Aloysius Mantiri, noted: “The Ulubelu Green Hydrogen Pilot Project is a historic milestone that integrates geothermal energy with hydrogen technology. This project is not only a technological learning center, but also a crucial foundation for accelerating the roadmap for an integrated national clean energy ecosystem,”
The launch comes as PGE expands its geothermal portfolio in Sumatra. In the Ulubelu Geothermal Working Area, the company has inaugurated the 55-megawatt Gunung Tiga Geothermal Power Plant exploration project. Earlier this year, Lumut Balai Unit 2, also with 55 MW capacity, entered operations and is now connected to the national grid.
PGE is also running feasibility studies for Lumut Balai Unit 3 and Unit 4, both planned at 55 MW. Work is moving ahead on the Hululais Geothermal Power Plant as well, a 2×55 MW project scheduled to be fully online by late 2027 or early 2028.
Together, these developments highlight PGE’s drive to expand clean energy. The Ulubelu pilot is being positioned as an early marker in its wider commitment to Indonesia’s Net Zero Emissions 2060 target and to building a more secure national energy supply.