Interview with Rigsis Indonesia | NordCham Indonesia

January 21, 2025

Name: Farhan Muhammad

Title: CEO

Company name: Rigsis

Company headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia

1. What is your business/business model?

Rigsis is a geothermal engineering consultant. Rigsis provides consultancy services throughout the entire geothermal project lifecycle, from exploration to development. Our expertise covers subsurface work, drilling engineering, and surface facility engineering. Our clients include geothermal operators, contractors, and financial institutions. Rigsis established a partnership with an Icelandic geothermal consulting company to broaden our services and have combined expertise.

2. How long has your company had a presence in Indonesia?

We have been active in the geothermal industry for about 10 years. We initially started as a drilling software company, founded by a team with extensive experience and portfolios in the oil & gas and geothermal sector. Over time, we recognized the interesting growth potential within the geothermal market. With our team’s deep industry knowledge, we decided to move our focus towards geothermal consulting. We saw the move into this niche market as a compelling opportunity, enabling us to leverage our expertise and contribute meaningfully to the sector's development.

3. What are some trends in Indonesia that you think are noteworthy/that you are excited about?

In recent years, one of the most noteworthy trends in Indonesia is the growing focus on achieving Net Zero Emissions (NZE) by 2060, which is having a significant impact across various sectors, including energy. As global and national policies increasingly emphasize sustainability, businesses are being urged to adopt more sustainable practices. This trend is creating a rising demand for clean, renewable energy options and has spurred innovation in green technologies. This is particularly true in geothermal energy, where Indonesia’s government has set ambitious targets for expanding geothermal capacity as part of its broader sustainability goals. We need to continuously update and upgrade our knowledge and expertise to keep pace with the growing demand for sustainability in Indonesia. Every business should contribute to the country’s transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Another trend is the rapid digitalization across various industries, including energy. We are particularly excited about how digitalization can be leveraged within geothermal projects. At Rigsis, we are now trying to push the boundaries of traditional engineering design by transforming it into animated 3D and developed VR models for drilling rigs to visually represent complex operations in a more interactive and engaging way. Although this is still in the experimental stage, it is already being utilized for educational and promotional purposes.

4. Why did you decide to become a member of The Nordic Chamber in Indonesia?

We decided to become a member of The Nordic Chamber in Indonesia because of our strong existing collaborations with Iceland and our extensive work with Icelandic professionals in the geothermal sector. Joining the Chamber allows us to expand our network further and strengthen our relationships. Through this membership, we aim to share our expertise, promote collaboration, and support the growth of Nordic business interests in the country.

5. What advice would you give Nordic companies looking to enter the Indonesian market?

It's essential to approach the market with a good understanding of the local business culture and regulations. Particularly for regulation, Indonesia has specific regulations in different sectors. So, it’s important to familiarize yourself with it to navigate potential challenges that may arise. Aside from that, networking and relationship-building are integral to doing business in Indonesia. Strong connections with key stakeholders, including government agencies and local businesses, can facilitate smoother negotiations and operations. Rigsis's partnership with Icelandic companies is a great example of successful collaboration. It shows how Nordic businesses can effectively build strong connections by working closely with local partners, and be able to navigate the Indonesian market smoothly. This collaboration also shows the value of leveraging local knowledge and relationships to create opportunities here in Indonesia.

6. How can your company help Nordic companies in Indonesia?

Rigsis's partnership with Icelandic companies serves as an excellent model for other Nordic companies seeking to enter Indonesia. We will be very happy to share how this partnership functions, how to tackle cross-cultural collaboration challenges and work together effectively. This would be a valuable insight for the other Nordic businesses.

7. How can members reach out to you?

Please send us an email, Whatsapp, or visit our website www.rigsis.com, and drop messages there.

8. Favorite past-time activity in Jakarta? Or the most underestimated Jakarta restaurant/bar in your opinion?

Try some fine Indonesian restaurants such as Bunga Rampai (you can host an event here), Noesaka in OneSatrio, and Seribu Rasa. GIOI resto also serves some Indonesian fusion food which I guess is worth trying.