TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Archbishop of Ende Mgr. Paulus Budi Kleden, SVD, rejects the geothermal power plant project in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The Archdiocese of Ende announced that it will pursue a judicial review of several government decisions related to the development of geothermal energy in Flores.
"Flores is not suitable for geothermal, considering the majority of the population are farmers," said Budi during a media briefing with JPIC OFM, attended by Tempo online on Wednesday, July 29, 2026.
He mentioned that geothermal damage has occurred in several areas. He believes that energy development should take into account the region's characteristics and the people's livelihoods. The majority of the people in Flores depend on agriculture and natural resources for their living.
The Archdiocese of Ende, together with JPIC OFM, explained the legal basis for filing a judicial review to the Supreme Court. The lawsuit challenges the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Decree Number 2268 K/30/MEM/2017 regarding the designation of Flores Island as a Geothermal Island; Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Decree related to the Work Area of Geothermal (WKP) Sokoria; and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Decree related to the Work Area of Geothermal (WKP) Mataloko.
He believes that the geothermal development plan does not consider the social, ecological, and cultural aspects of Flores' society. Geothermal exploration in several locations, including Sokoria in Ende Regency and Mataloko in Ngada Regency, has negatively impacted the local community. This, he said, is based on the testimony of residents who have felt the negative impact of the explorations and after hearing presentations from many priests.
He mentioned the neglected impact of geothermal exploration as a serious concern. In Mataloko, Ngada Regency, unplanned drilling has caused mud to emerge at several locations, damaging farmland and residents' gardens.
Similar incidents occurred in Sokoria, Ende Regency. Geothermal exploration dried up and killed many coffee plants belonging to residents, threatening the local economy, which depends on agricultural production.
Representatives of the affected community also expressed their concerns. They are worried that the geothermal project will damage water sources, farmland, and cultural sites around the Sokoria and Mataloko Work Areas.
In addition to the legal aspects, the Archdiocese emphasized the Catholic Church's views on protecting human dignity and preserving the integrity of creation. "This is about ecological justice and the protection of our common home. We need energy, but we should not sacrifice the farmers and the environment in Flores," said Chairman of the Commission for Justice, Peace, and Pastoral Migrants of the Archdiocese of Ende, RD Reginaldus Piperno.
Reginaldus stated that the hope of the Flores community is for an energy policy that is just and sustainable, one that does not sacrifice the farmers, who are the backbone of the island's economy.
Regarding the rejection of the geothermal development project in Flores, Tempo requested a response from Eniya Listiani Dewi, the Director General of New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. However, she has not responded to the WhatsApp message.
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