Steam rises from the Wayang Windu geothermal power station on West Java. Indonesia, a seismically-active island chain studded with scores of volcanoes, holds an estimated 40% of the world's geothermal energy reserves, but has long lagged behind in its use of the renewable power source. The Earth's heat emanating through the faultlines warms underground reservoirs, and the resulting steam can be channelled to geothermal energy plants. Fossil fuel addictionThe majority of Indonesia's power is generated from its abundant reserves of coal and oil. Ego Syahrial, the head of the government's geology agency, which assesses geothermal energy reserves conceded: "The progress is not very encouraging to be honest."

Source: Bangkok Post September 25, 2016 03:45 UTC