Geological Agency Researches Natural Hydrogen Potential At One Pute Jaya Morowali

Hot springs are said to contain hydrogen in the One Pute Jaya area, Morewali Regency, Central Sulawesi. (ANTARA/HO-Badan Geology)

The Geological Survey Center (PSG) of the Geological Agency continues to conduct research to identify natural hydrogen potentials in the One Pute Jaya area, Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi. "This research is not only surprising, but also brings good news for the future of clean energy in the country," said Head of the Center for Geological Survey Hermansyah when contacted from Jakarta, Antara, Sunday, October 22. He said that Central Sulawesi is known to be an area that has the most extensive distribution of ultramaffic rock in Indonesia, thus becoming an interesting place to start the search for hydrogen green energy sources. Hot springs in the One Pute area, he said, are shown to contain natural hydrogen gas. The gas bubbles that appear in these spring puddles are hydrogen gas originating from the serpentinization process that occurs below the earth's surface. "More interestingly, the emergence of this hydrogen gas is thought to be related to the Matano fault, which is a route for gas migration to the surface. This is what makes hydrogen gas appear with One Pute hot springs," he said. According to Hermansyah, the findings of One Pute's springs remind all parties of Indonesia's natural wealth, not only in the form of petroleum, natural gas, and mining, but also in the form of clean energy sources that can be a major milestone in realizing a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future. The development and utilization of clean energy such as hydrogen is also an important step in overcoming climate change currently facing the world.

"Hopefully this research will continue to develop and provide great benefits in supporting the Net Zero Emission program launched by Indonesia in 2060," he said.