Gender, Geothermal Energy, and Environment: The Impact of Baturraden Geothermal Power Plant Exploration on Women and Environment in Banyumas, Indonesia

Abstract

Geothermal energy is considered as renewable energy and environmentally friendly. However, during the exploration process, a Geothermal Power Plant (PLTP) commonly leaves various environmental problems, such as destroyed conservation areas, floods, landslides, and reduced clean water sources. The impact of the Baturraden Geothermal Power Plant exploration also has resulted in water pollution of the Mengaji and Prukut rivers, which eventually could no longer be used as clean water sources for people’s daily lives, especially women. This PLTP Baturraden case study aimed to observe the relationship between environment, gender, and geothermal energy, especially the impact of geothermal power plant exploration. This research used a qualitative method by collecting primary data through interviews and secondary data through literature studies. This study showed that PLTP Baturraden exploration had negative impacts in 2017-2018 water pollution of Prukut River as a clean water source and directly affected women in Panembangan, Cilongok. Using a gender analysis, environmental destruction is analyzed through three things, namely formal and informal constraints, division of labor, and access to resources which have a worsening impact on women.