PRESIDENT TO OFFICIALLY OPEN GEOTHERMAL CONGRESS IN BALI

Jakarta, April 26 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to officially open the Fourth World Geothermal Congress, at Nusa Dua, Bali Province, Monday.

The head of state departed from Halim Perdanakesuma Air Force base at 7 am local time with an entourage consisting of, among others, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, Industry Ministry MS Hidayat, State Enterprise Minister Mustafa Abubakar, Marine and Fishery Affairs Minister Fadel Muhammad, Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hassan and Chairman of the Investment Coordinating Board Gita Wirjawan.

Prior to the Congress opening, President Yudhoyono is slated to hold a meeting with Iceland President Olafur Ragnar Grimson.

On the occasion, a number of cooperation agreements on geothermal project development will be signed.

Yudhoyono is expected to return to Jakarta on the same day at around 2 pm WIB.

The Fourth World Geothermal Congress themed "Geothermal: The Energy to Change the World", will be attended by approximately 2500 delegations from 80 countries.

Participants of the Congress which will be held on April 25-30, 010, will include ministers, dignitaries and experts from different countries.

Highlights of the event include high powered panel discussions, Chief Executive Officer summit, Exhibition and a Bali Declaration by the Congress participants.

Worldwide geothermal power capacity approached 10GWe at the end of 2006 and is expected to increase by another 2GWe by 2010. In Indonesia more than 1000 MW of geothermal power capacity has been installed.

The Congress is supported by many governments with high-level representatives attending from China, Germany, Iceland, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, The Philippines, Uganda and USA.

A number of international institutions and financial organizations such as The World Bank, UNEP (United Nations Environment Program) and the European Union will also participate in the Congress.