Badak NGL ready to operate LNG for mining vehicles project

By Godang Sitompul

PT Badak NGL as the operator of the Bontang LNG plant in East Kalimantan is set to operate in July of this year a pilot project to supply LNG for trucks used to transport coal at concessions owned by PT Indominco, a subsidiary of coal mining giant PT Indo Tambang Mega Raya Tbk, in East Kalimantan.

?One unit of mobile LNG filling station will be delivered to the (Indominco) mining site in July. We purchased two units, but one will arrive first,? President Director of Badak NGL, Nanang Untung told Petromindo.com Wednesday.

If successful, the project run by the subsidiary of state-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina, is expected to help reduce the use of pricey oil-based diesel fuel particularly in automotive vehicles in the coal mining sector, one of the largest industrial consumers of the fuel. LNG is also seen as more environmentally friendly than diesel.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak