February 18, 2026 | 05:16 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has named PT Ormat Geothermal Indonesia as the winner of the bid for the Ranu Lake Geothermal Working Area (WKP) in West Halmahera Regency, North Maluku.
According to its official website, PT Ormat Geothermal Indonesia is a subsidiary of Ormat Technologies Inc., a global geothermal energy company founded in 1965 in Yavne, Israel.
The company initially focused on turbine technology before expanding into renewable energy, particularly geothermal power.
The decree was signed by Eniya Listiani Dewi, Director General of Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE), on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.
Under the rules, the winning bidder must pay the basic price of the working area data as non-tax state revenue and establish an Exploration Commitment as a state-owned enterprise entity.
"In the event that the winning bidder fails to fulfill its obligations within the specified period, the winning bidder shall be deemed disqualified and the subsequent rank shall be determined as the winning bidder," the decree reads.
The decree also requires that if the winning bidder is a business entity not already designated to manage the working area, it must either form a new company or amend its existing articles of association to comply.
Ormat is publicly listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (1991) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ORA, 2004). It has designed, built, and operated geothermal power plants in countries including the United States, Kenya, Guatemala, Honduras, and Guadeloupe.
In Indonesia, Ormat has been involved in the development of the Ijen Geothermal Power Plant in East Java, in partnership with a Medco Power subsidiary, which now operates commercially.
It also participated in the Sarulla Geothermal Power Plant project in North Sumatra, managed by a consortium including PT Medco Power Indonesia, INPEX Corporation, Itochu Corporation, Kyushu Electric Power, and Ormat Technologies.
Controversy Over Israeli-Linked Company
However, the ESDM’s decision to award the project to a company linked to Israel has drawn criticism.
Bhima Yudhistira, Executive Director of the Center for Economic and Law Studies (Celios), said the appointment could weaken Indonesia’s moral position internationally, given that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians and suppressing their right to freedom.
"This is not just about the energy business, but also a source of profit for Israel, a country that has never recognized the independence of Palestine," Bhima said in a written statement on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
At the time of reporting, Eniya Listiani Dewi had not responded to requests for comment regarding the criticism of PT Ormat Geothermal Indonesia’s appointment as the Ranu Lake WKP winner.
Read: PGE, PLN Collaborate on Geothermal Power Expansion in Sulawesi, Sumatra
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