Pertamina: Domestic Gas Demand Increases
VIVAnews - PT Pertamina (Persero) figured domestic gas demand will continue to rise along with the completion of various Liquefied Natural Gas/LNG infrastructure projects, one of which is the Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) in Jakarta Bay.
Pertamina Gas Director, Hari Karyuliarto, said domestic gas demand will rise from around 3.500 MMSCFD in 2009 to 4.700 MMSCFD in the future. The increase is triggered by government’s programs to revitalize fertilizer factories, to optimize gas for power plants, industrial raw materials, and to convert fossil-based fuel to gas fuel for transportation and households.
“Pertamina is ready to become the backbone of gas supply by accelerating the national natural gas infrastructure development,” said Hari on Wednesday.
Pertamina will soon finalize several national LNG infrastructure projects, such as the modification of Atun LNG refinery into a receiving terminal including transmission pipe to North Sumatra, Trans Java’s pipeline. Other projects include several mini LNG receiving terminals in 9 points for PLN’s power plant purposes in the eastern region of Indonesia.
Moreover, for the first time, the LNG refinery in Bontang will supply domestic gas demand via FSRU in Jakarta Bay. The Bontang LNG refinery and gas from Mahakam Block will supply 11.75 million metric tons for 11 year-contract for the FSRU in Jakarta Bay with PT Nusantara Regas as operator.
“This is an important and historical milestone for Indonesia in developing energy independence and security,” he said.
Cheaper
Hari said the major factors in the growing gas consumption are the decline of crude oil production and the increase of natural gas reserves. Moreover, crude oil price has increased whereas natural gas price has decreased.
PT Badak NGL, as the operator of Badak LNG refinery, for the first time shipped LNG on August 1, 1977 to Osaka, Japan and until April 21, 2012, Badak NGL has shipped 8,085 LNG for export. The refinery has the capacity of producing 22.5 million ton per year.
Bontang's LNG has been exported to several countries. In 2010, the refinery exported 258 cargos to Japan, 26 cargos to South Korea and 31 cargos to Taiwan. In 2011, the refinery exported 166 cargos to Japan, 24 cargos to South Korea and 32 cargos to Taiwan.