Minister Of Energy And Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif: Need Updating Equipment For Volcano Observation Posts Throughout Indonesia

Semeru Mountain. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif once again said it was necessary to update monitoring equipment, especially at volcanic observation posts (PGA) throughout Indonesia.

During his working visit to the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in Bandung, West Java, Friday (12/24/2021), Minister Arifin asked PVMBG to continue monitoring volcanic activity in Indonesia.

"Follow the latest developments in existing technology. If there is a new one, upgrade, we will improve the quality," he said, quoted from a release from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources quoted from Antara, Saturday, December 25.

Accompanying the ESDM Minister's working visit after monitoring the availability of electricity and fuel supplies for Christmas 2021 and New Year's 2022, were the Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Ego Syahrial, Head of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Eko Budi Lelono, and Head of PVMBG of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Andiani.

Of the 127 active volcanoes in Indonesia, PVMBG monitors 69 volcanoes through 74 PGAs for 24 hours. "We ask PVMBG to monitor all volcanoes, both types A, B, C. In the meantime, we are digitizing 69 volcanoes, so that monitoring can be integrated in PVMBG," he said.

Minister Arifin said PVMBG must fulfill three things, namely the adequacy of monitoring officers, the availability of the latest monitoring tools, and the development of Human Resources (HR) capabilities.

For human resource capacity development, it can be done at the Center for Human Resources Development of the ESDM Human Resources Development Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

On that occasion, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources held a video conference with volcano observers who were on duty throughout Indonesia.

"Assalamualaikum observers of Mount Seulawah Agam in Aceh, Mount Lokon, Semeru, Merapi, Dieng, Sinabung, how are you all," said Arifin.

Minister Arifin asked the observers the status of the volcano he was monitoring and promised to modernize his observation equipment.

"Continue to monitor volcanic activity, don't be careless and stay alert. Continue to improve capabilities, we will also continue to strive to modernize observation equipment," he said.

Volcano observers are generally equipped with disaster monitoring equipment, which includes seismic, GPS, tilt meter, electronic distance measurement (EDM), and CCTV.

Currently, Mount Merapi has the best monitoring system with 6 seismic stations, 6 GPS stations, 2 tilt meter stations, 1 EDM at least 4 reflectors, 1 geochemical station, 2 CCTV stations, and 1 infra red camera.

PVMBG also has a monitoring system for the Opak Fault in Yogyakarta and the Lembang Fault in Bandung. The ground movement monitoring system is carried out by installing a Landslide Early Warning System (LEWS) and a monitoring room in Bandung to monitor volcanic activity and collect information on earthquakes, tsunamis, and ground movements throughout Indonesia.

The MAGMA Indonesia application is also presented to make it easier for the public to access the latest geological disaster data.

"The monitoring flow for volcanoes begins with the results of field recordings that are sent to the monitoring post via analog/digital radio, followed by the Bandung office via VSAT. The monitoring flow for active faults and ground motion begins with data recording in the field sent to Bandung via the MAGMA Indonesia application, "explained the Head of PVMBG Andiani.

PVMBG has also made achievements related to disaster management, both at home and abroad, which demonstrates its credibility and competence.

MAGMA Indonesia won the Top 40 Best Public Service Innovations in Indonesia in 2017. PVMBG also received the title of corruption-free area in 2021 from the Ministry of PAN-RB.

Internationally, PVMBG is recognized as the best volcanology institution in the world in terms of crisis monitoring and management by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI).