Bontang needs seven more cargoes to meet LNG export commitment

Deputy Chairman of BP Migas, Kardaya Warnika, said in Jakarta on Thursday that Bontang-based LNG plant's production shortage would be only around seven cargoes, not 42 cargoes as earlier reported.

Kardaya said that Indonesia had already secured commitment from overseas LNG producers such as Qatar and Oman to provide six of the seven cargoes needed by the Bontang LNG plant to meet its export commitment.

"It means that the Bontang LNG plant will need one more cargo to meet its export commitment," he was quoted as saying by Suara Karya daily.

Pertamina said in earlier reports that the state oil company would need at least 42 cargoes to meet export commitment to Japan, Korea and Taiwan this year due to the decline in the production of the Botang LNG plant.

Kardaya, however, said that the LNG shortage would be only around seven cargoes, each containing 55,000 tons, due the decline in the demand from the three countries which have turned to other LNG producers to meet part of their LNG needs. (*)