Geo Dipa receives USTDA grant for geothermal lithium study in Dieng, Indonesia
Geo Dipa and Lilac Solutions will be working on a geothermal lithium pilot at the Dieng geothermal field in Indonesia with grant support from the USTDA.
PT Geo Dipa Energi (Persero) (Geo Dipa) has received grant support from the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) for a project that will explore the potential for lithium extraction from geothermal fluids at the Dieng geothermal site in Central Java, Indonesia. The grant agreement was signed at the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum (IPEM) held in Tokyo, Japan.
The project will be done through a technological collaboration with Lilac Solutions (Lilac), a US-based technology supplier of ion exchange solutions for lithium extraction. Lilac will be deploying its ion exchange lithium recovery technology at the Dieng geothermal field to recover and process lithium into high-grade lithium carbonate. The company had previously been connected to another geothermal lithium extraction project in California.
“USTDA opens doors for U.S. technology companies to compete globally. Indonesia’s geothermal fields hold significant untapped lithium potential, and this project will demonstrate that American ion exchange technology can unlock them responsibly and at scale,” said Raef Sully, CEO of Lilac.
If the pilot is a success, it will be Indonesia’s first facility to extract and process lithium from geothermal brine. USTDA will also support the project by connecting Geo Dipa with potential US buyers of the produced lithium carbonate.
“USTDA’s support marks an important step in strengthening Indonesia’s independence in meeting its lithium needs and reinforcing strategic collaboration between Indonesia and the United States,” said Yudistian Yunis, President Director of Geo Dipa.
“This initiative can support the development of Indonesia’s battery industry and other domestic lithium-based applications by unlocking additional value from renewable resources. The lithium is naturally present in geothermal brine that is already part of existing geothermal operations, allowing us to create economic benefits for local communities while maintaining strong environmental stewardship.”
The 55-MW Dieng geothermal power plant has been operational since 2002. Work is already underway for another 55-MW expansion, which is targeting the start of operations by 2027.
With this project, Geo Dipa seeks to encourage innovation in geothermal energy while creating opportunities for the development of critical minerals based on renewable energy. Similar lithium extraction schemes from geothermal brine are being worked on in many parts of the world including in the UK, USA, Germany, France, and Italy.
Source: PT Geo Dipa Energi and Lilac Solutions