CBM gas supply only 5 mmscfd for this year: Kardaya

The production of coal bed methane (CBM) gas this year is expected to be much lower than initial projection.

Kardaya Warnika, Expert Staff for Production and Investment at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, estimated CBM gas production this year at only 5 mmscfd, much lower than the 9.25 mmscfd initially forecast by upstream oil and gas regulator BPMIGAS.

Kardaya said that CBM development is much challenging that the development of conventional natural gas due to the so-called dewatering process involved in the former.

He said that the government is preparing a number of incentives to encourage the development of CBM gas in the country to support the energy security program.

BPMIGAS spokesman Gde Pradnyana said that the country?s CBM gas production is still minimal as most of the projects are still in dewatering phase. Albeit the small production, it could already fire up mini power plants providing electricity to houses such as the one being done by VICO in Pamaguan, East Kalimantan. (*)