Jakarta – The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) in a written statement on Monday (11/7) stated that Central Java as a pioneer province rich in solar energy also has a variety of alternative energy sources. One of them is swamp gas or biogenic shallow gas, which will be developed starting in 2020 in Bantar Village, Wanaraja District, Cilacap.
More than 100 families have used the gas formed from methanogenic bacteria in the swamp environment which is an anaerobic environment. Head of the Bureau of Communication, Public Information Services and Cooperation (KLIK) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Agung Pribadi, revealed that the development of gas contained in this shallow rock layer is part of energy diversification as well as encouraging national energy security.
“Swamp gas is currently being developed in Central Java as an alternative energy source. This swamp gas is also considered environmentally friendly and can be used to replace LPG,” he said.
The application of swamp gas at a number of points in Central Java Province, said Pribadi, is expected to encourage the economic development of the local community. In 2020, the Central Java Province ESDM Office built a swamp gas installation in Bantar Village for 25 families. Then in the following year the installation was expanded to 100 families with the farthest installation of 600 meters.
The use of swamp gas can save about 72% of LPG costs. Usually, people use 3 LPG cylinders for Rp. 23 thousand rupiah per month, however, now there is no need to pay for LPG.
The need for maintaining swamp gas installation equipment is obtained from the contribution of the people who use this swamp gas. By paying 20 thousand rupiah per month, people can use the gas for their daily needs as well as for home industries.
“Aside from the contribution of the Bantar Village community, the Bantar Village Government also helps through the Village Fund which adds 3 separator tubes. This tube can be used to maintain gas stability and an even distribution for user clusters,” said Pribadi. (Hartatik)
Banner photo: Central Java Province office of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) develops swamp gas as an alternative energy source. (Source: Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources)
