Govt To Increase Domestic Use Of LNG

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The government will increase the use its liquefied natural gas (LNG) for domestic purposes which will continue to increase in the coming years, a deputy minister said.

Deputy Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources Widjajono Partowidagdo said here on Thursday that the construction of LNG terminals in the country was still going on.

"We will continue to monitor the development of LNG terminals in the country" he said.

He said that the first terminal project in Jakarta is expected to be finished in 2012.

He said that the terminal can obtain LNG supplies from abroad (import) and at home.

The recipient terminals, he continued, is also possible to be built at the South Java coastal area and receive import from Australia.

"The government has the commitment many more LNG terminals," he said.

Oil and Gas Director General Evita Legowo said at present the government was planning to build floating storage and regasification units (FSRU) in Jakarta, Medan and Semarang. It will also build one regasification unit in Arun, Aceh.

The Jakarta FSRU is expected to have a capacity of three million tons per year, and those in Medan 1.5 - 2 million tons and Semarang 3 million tons.

The regasification in Arun will have a capacity of 1.5 - 2.5 million tons per annum.(*)