China LNG assessment team to visit Indonesia next week

A China team led by vice director of Guangdong Development and Planning Committee will pay a visit to conduct due diligence on Indonesia?s readiness to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to China, according to a BP Indonesia senior official.

Satya W. Yudha, BP Indonesia?s Vice President for Government and Public Relations said Friday the team would be scheduled to meet with Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Pertamina?s president Baihaki Hakim and to visit Bontang LNG plant in East Kalimantan.

Satya said the team would visit Indonesia from April 16 to 20.

Indonesia had been short-listed together with Qatar and Australia to supply 3 million tons of LNG per annum to Guangdong LNG terminal starting 2005.

China is widely expected to announce the tender winner in the next few months.

Indonesia would supply Guangdong LNG requirement from BP operated Tangguh gas field in the easternmost province of Papua

Indonesia and BP is trying hard to win the China LNG deal by sending high ranking government official and offering cooperation since the winning of the contract would ensure development of Tangguh LNG plant to be carried out.

BP Plc., the operator of Tangguh also owns 30 percent of the LNG receiving terminal in at Shenzhen in Guangdong, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2005. (godang)