Potential investors are reluctant to start developing geothermal power plants in the country because the government has not shown its commitment to this energy business, according to an executive of an energy company.

Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) president director Rony Gunawan said the government needs to help attract investment in this sector to improve the country’s energy sufficiency.

Despite its abundant geothermal energy potential, Indonesia has so far only made use of 4 percent of that potential apparently as a result of minimum government support.