Pastika said exploration for the geothermal project should cease in favor of the Bali Crossing project, in which Bali would get power from Java via an aerial cable.
He said results from exploration at three sites in Bedugul were not fruitful and had led to the destruction of four hectares of protected forests. “It’s difficult to green-light the continued destruction of what little forests we have left in Bali,” he said.
Pastika said another reason for his recommendation was that the areas in question were regarded as holy sites by Balinese Hindus and contained 30 temples.
