Arun launches 4,000th LNG shipment to South Korea

PT Arun NGL Co., one of the country's LNG producers, launched the 4,000th shipment of its LNG exports on Thursday at a ceremony attended by the company's senior executives including president director Agnasio Sabri, vice president Fuadzi Husein, and Lhok Seumawe mayor Marzuki M. Amin. Suara Karya reported on Friday.

The 124,000 cubic feet of liquefied natural gas carried out by tanker LNG Golar Spirit were shipped to Pyeong Taek port, South Korea, one of Indonesian major LNG buyers.

Agnasio said that LNG being shipped to South Korea was the 4,000th LNG shipment launched by the company since the start of its commercial operation in 1978. "Despite its old age, the LNG plant is still able to produce at its 99 percent capacity.

PT Arun has the capacity to produce about 73 cargos of LNG through its three LNG plants. But due to the decline in the natural gas supply, the company will only produce 64 cargos this year.

PT Arun might ease its operation in 2008 due to the shortage of natural gas. ExxonMobil, the main gas supplier, said recently that it would not extend its contract on the Block A gas field due to the depletion of its gas reserves. (*)