Skip to main content

Ormat Drills 3 Exploratory Wells In A Pot Of Gold

Gold Meets Steam: A Game-Changing Geothermal Venture in North Sulawesi

By:Robert Buluma

:steam gushes orit of a geothermal well,wells of power

In the heart of North Sulawesi's Bitung area, a groundbreaking partnership has emerged, one that promises to reshape both the energy and mining landscapes. The collaboration between Ormat, a global leader in geothermal technology, and Archi, a prominent gold mining company, is not just another business venture—it’s a bold statement of innovation and ambition.


Established in early 2021, this joint venture is an intriguing fusion of resources and expertise. Archi, well-known for its operations in the gold-rich Toka Tindung area, is now diving into uncharted territory with geothermal energy. Ormat, on the other hand, has taken on the monumental task of managing the A-to-Z operations of this geothermal project. In return, Ormat will command a three-quarters share of the venture’s stakes, leaving Archi with a quarter—a reflection of the immense responsibility Ormat is shouldering.


But why does this partnership matter? The stakes couldn’t be higher. North Sulawesi’s geothermal resources are among Indonesia's most promising, offering the potential to not only generate clean energy but also power the local mining operations sustainably. With three exploratory wells set to be drilled, this project could unlock an energy revolution, one that merges the worlds of gold and geothermal energy in ways never seen before.


Doron Blachar, Ormat’s visionary CEO, described the venture as a “pioneering step” in expanding geothermal applications beyond traditional boundaries. Mr. Ken Crichton, a key figure at Archi, echoed this optimism, emphasizing the transformative potential this partnership holds for both industries.


The stakes? Success in Bitung could make this project a global blueprint for harnessing geothermal energy to sustain and elevate mining operations. Failure, however, would be a costly reminder of the challenges in merging two vastly different industries.


As the drill heads pierce the earth in North Sulawesi, the world watches with bated breath. Will this ambitious venture pave the way for a new era of sustainable energy and mining integration? Or will it succumb to the pressures of untested waters? One thing is certain—the results of this experiment could send ripples across industries worldwide.

This article resembles our earlier reporting , Only redone to showcase the ability of geothermal to co exist with other precious metals

For now, the Bitung project stands as a beacon of hope, daring to combine the ancient allure of gold with the futuristic promise of geothermal energy. And as the drills begin their descent, the stakes couldn’t feel more electrifying.

Source:Petromindo ,Ormat

Connect With Us:Alphaxioms


Comments

Popular Posts

Eavor’s Geretsried Closed-Loop Geothermal Plant Now Powers the Grid

Eavor Technologies Achieves Historic Milestone: World’s First Commercial-Scale Closed-Loop Geothermal System Now Delivering Power in Geretsried, Germany Published: December 2025 By:  Robert Buluma The Day Geothermal Changed Forever On a crisp Bavarian morning in late 2025, a quiet revolution in clean energy officially went live.   Eavor Technologies Inc ., the Calgary-based pioneer of closed-loop geothermal technology, announced that its flagship commercial project in Geretsried, Germany has begun delivering power to the grid becoming the world’s first utility-scale multilateral closed-loop geothermal system to achieve commercial operation. For anyone who has followed the geothermal sector for the last decade, this is nothing short of seismic (pun intended). What Makes Eavor’s Closed-Loop System Truly Disruptive? Traditional geothermal plants rely on naturally occurring hot water reservoirs or enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) that require hydraulic fracturing and massiv...

Exclusive Interview: An In-Depth Look at Exergy’s Game-Changing Gemini Turbine

Exclusive interview with Exergy : discover the new Gemini dual-flow radial outflow turbine, the first single-unit ORC solution for 30–60 MW geothermal projects, offering up to 30 % lower costs and 99 % availability. By:  Robert Buluma .   An interview with  Luca Pozzoni -  Deputy CEO | Group CFO - Exergy International and the Exergy Team 1. Can you walk us through the key design innovations in your new Gemini turbine and how it differs from previous models? The major innovation of the Gemini turbine lies in the dual-flow configuration: unlike conventional radial outflow turbines which are equipped with a single bladed overhung rotor disk, the Gemini features a double-side bladed rotor disk mounted in a between-bearing configuration. This enables the efficient processing of significantly larger volumes of fluid, leading to higher power output having basically two radial outflow turbines in a single machine with enhanced operational stability and simplified mainte...

Amsterdam Strikes Geothermal Gold: Hot, Thick, Permeable Reservoir Confirmed

Breakthrough Beneath the Beach: Amsterdam Region Hits Geothermal Paydirt at Strandeiland By: Robert Buluma The Netherlands just took a giant leap toward fossil-free heating. On the artificial island of Strandeiland (part of Amsterdam’s fast-growing IJburg district), the SCAN exploration well has officially confirmed what the geothermal community has been hoping for: a thick, hot, and , most importantly permeable reservoir in the Slochteren Formation. Key numbers that matter:   Reservoir thickness: 152 meters   Bottom-hole temperature: 66 °C   Permeability: confirmed via successful production and injection tests   That’s not screaming-hot by Icelandic standards, but for direct-use district heating in one of Europe’s densest urban areas, 66 °C is more than enough to supply thousands of homes with clean, baseload heat – forever. Why This Well Changes Everything for the Netherlands The Dutch government launched the SCAN program (Seismic Campaign Nethe...

Meta and XGS Energy Partner on 150 MW Geothermal Power Project in New Mexico

Meta and XGS Energy Partner on 150 MW Geothermal Power Project in New Mexico A Game-Changer for AI, Clean Energy, and the Future By Robert Buluma – Alphaxioms Energy Blog In a bold move that signals the future of energy and technology convergence, XGS Energy and Meta Platforms, Inc. have announced a groundbreaking agreement to develop 150 megawatts (MW) of next-generation geothermal energy in New Mexico. This partnership not only promises to reshape the state's energy landscape but also underscores the growing demand for sustainable, round-the-clock power to fuel the age of artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven economies. Clean Power Without Water – XGS’s Unique Edge At the heart of this partnership lies XGS Energy’s proprietary solid-state geothermal technology. Unlike traditional geothermal systems that rely heavily on water and specific geological conditions, XGS’s innovation enables electricity production from hot, dry rock  with zero operating water use. This water-inde...

Karlsruhe’s Geothermal Collapse: A Costly Blow to Germany’s Energy Transition

Karlsruhe’s Geothermal Collapse: A Costly Blow to Germany’s Energy Transition By:  Robert Buluma In the heart of Baden-Württemberg, a project that once symbolized ambition, innovation, and the promise of clean geothermal heat has now collapsed quietly. What was meant to become one of Germany’s most transformative regional heating networks has instead turned into a warning sign for Europe’s energy transition. The dissolution of the regional heat association in the Karlsruhe district,made up of ten municipalities,marks a serious setback not only for Germany but for the broader global geothermal movement. This is more than a failed project. It is a lesson in communication, financing, political courage, and the true cost of clean energy. A Vision That Should Have Succeeded The plan was compelling: Harness the deep geothermal power beneath Graben-Neudorf,home to Germany’s hottest geothermal well to deliver CO₂-neutral district heating to communities from Bretten to Bruchsal, Forst, and ...

€1 Billion EU Innovation Fund Auction Opens Today: The Race to Decarbonize Europe’s Industrial Heat Has Officially Begun

€1 Billion EU Auction: A Game-Changer for Decarbonizing Europe's Industrial Heat Posted by Robert Buluma | December 4, 2025 In a bold move toward climate neutrality, the European Commission has just opened the doors to a €1 billion funding bonanza aimed squarely at slashing fossil fuel dependency in one of Europe's most carbon-intensive sectors: industrial heat. If you're in the energy transition space, engineering, or sustainability game, this is your wake-up call. The Innovation Fund Fixed Premium Auction 2025 (IF25) for Industrial Process Heat Decarbonisation is now live, and it's not just another grant round—it's a competitive sprint to electrify and renew the way industries heat up their operations. As of today, December 4, 2025, the call is open for submissions until February 19, 2026. With projects required to be up and running within four years of grant signature, this auction is designed for speed and scale. Let's break it down: what it covers, who'...

Alberta Bets $35 Million on the Future of Drilling: From Smarter Oil Wells to Geothermal and Critical Minerals Breakthroughs

Alberta launches $35-million challenge to reinvent drilling for the next 50 years   By  Robert Buluma | December 3, 2025   EDMONTON – The days of drilling straight down and hoping for the best are long gone. Today, operators in Western Canada routinely steer multi-kilometre horizontal wells with pinpoint accuracy from a single surface location. Tomorrow’s wells, however, could be guided entirely by artificial intelligence, powered by low-emission rigs, and used to unlock everything from geothermal heat to critical minerals and permanent CO₂ storage. That future just got a $35-million boost. Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA ) officially opened applications this week for the Drilling Technology Challenge, a funding program designed to bridge the “valley of death” that too often kills promising subsurface innovations before they ever reach the field. “Many great ideas never make it past the prototype stage because the cost and risk of real-world testing are simply...

Iceland Ignites a Geothermal Revolution: ISK 600 Million Bet on Low-Temperature Innovation

Iceland's Geothermal Renaissance: Government Bets Big on Low-Enthalpy and Innovative Uses By: Robert Buluma Iceland has long been the poster child for geothermal energy. With legendary high-temperature fields powering everything from the famous Blue Lagoon to nearly 100% of the country’s electricity and district heating, most people assumed the geothermal story was already written. Apparently not. In a move that has the global geothermal community buzzing, the Icelandic government has just announced a massive ISK 600 million (roughly €4 million / $4.4 million USD) grant program specifically designed to kick-start innovative geothermal projects, with the state covering up to one-third of total project costs. What makes this announcement truly exciting isn’t the money itself (Iceland has funded geothermal before), but the deliberate shift in focus: low-enthalpy resources and non-traditional applications. Why This Matters  The Low-Enthalpy Revolution For decades, Iceland’s geothermal ...

Europe’s First Geothermal Lithium Revolution: EIB Injects €250 Million into Vulcan’s Zero-Carbon Lionheart Project

Europe Takes a Giant Leap Toward Lithium Independence: EIB Backs Vulcan Energy’s €2 Billion Lionheart Project with €250 Million By: Robert Buluma 3 December 2025 – In a move that could reshape Europe’s battery and electric-vehicle future, the European Investment Bank (EIB) has just signed a landmark €250 million financing agreement with Australian-German company Vulcan Energy for Phase One of the Lionheart Project in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley. This isn’t just another mining project. It’s Europe’s first commercial-scale Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) operation that simultaneously produces battery-grade lithium and renewable geothermal heat and power – all with a net-zero carbon footprint. Why this matters for Europe Lithium is classified as both a critical and strategic raw material under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act.   Europe currently imports >95% of its battery-grade lithium, mostly from Australia, Chile and China.   By 2030, the EU’s demand for lit...

Hot Nest Norway: Geothermal Luxury Carved Inside a Mountain

Hot Nest Norway: The World’s Most Extraordinary Geothermal Spa Resort is Taking Shape Inside a Mountain By:  Robert Buluma Deep in the dramatic Gudbrandsdalen valley in Otta, Norway, something truly groundbreaking (literally) is happening. A former slate quarry is being transformed into Hot Nest Norway – a year-round luxury destination carved directly into the bedrock of the mountain, powered entirely by deep geothermal energy. This isn’t just another spa. It’s a visionary fusion of raw Norwegian nature, cutting-edge renewable energy, and jaw-dropping architecture that looks like it was designed by a collaboration between Tolkien and Tesla. What is Hot Nest Norway? Imagine walking into a mountain and discovering 3,000 m² of luxurious spaces:   20 uniquely designed hotel rooms   700 m² of geothermal-heated indoor and outdoor pools (yes, outdoor pools in the Norwegian winter – steaming at +38 °C while snow falls around you)   A fine-dining restaurant cel...