VIVAnews - Mud outflow occurs in a geothermal drilling spot of Malatoko Geothermal Power Plant, East Nusa Tenggara. The cause of the mudflow is being investigated. Expert team of geologists from Bandung, West Java, and a geologist of Mining Agency of East Nusa Tenggara have departed to Mataloko, Golewa Subdistrict, Ngada Regency.
According to Head of Mining Agency of East Nusa Tenggara Johanis Bria Seran, the government will refer to the investigation inspection. "If the mudflow keeps spreading, local inhabitants will be evacuated," he said on Wednesday, Jan. 21.
Bria Seran went on to say that the geologists will look into the poured materials to find the cause of the mudflow. "Where did the materials come from: upper coat or lower coat?" Seran said.
If the materials were from lower coat, the mudflow must be from the earth's core. However, if the materials are from the upper coat, it might have been from clogged gas pipelines.
Technically, he said, there are several ways of why the mudflow occurred. "One the causes is heavy rainfalls which resulted in landslide around gas pipelines," he said. The impact is that the gas pipelines are blocked and caused mud to pour out from around the gas pipelines.
The assumption was based on the fact that the mudflow was not far from the first abandoned drilling hole.
The hot mudflow has accumulated in a 50-meter pond. Local inhabitants, assisted by some officers, have dug out a drain to channel the hot mudflow.
Several villagers were afraid that the mudflow will expand and have terrible effects on them. "We are concerned that the mudflow may damage plants or sink our land," said Martinus Ngera, a Mataloko inhabitant.
For the time being, three mudflows have been spotted. The diameter of each outflow reaches 50 centimeters with average height of 1.5 meters. The temperature of the hot mudflow is up to 120 degrees Celsius.
The geothermal exploration in Mataloko is aimed at generating electricity turbine used to supply electricity in most Flores regions. The drilling has been carried out since 2005. However, the geothermal electricity still has not functioned.
Coverage by: Jemris Fointuna|Kupang
Translated by: Bonardo Maulana Wahono
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