Donggi-Senoro gas should be used for fertilizer production: Kalla

Vice President Jusuf Kalla has again insisted that liquefied natural gas (LNG) to be produced from the Donggi-Senoro LNG plant in Central Sulawesi should be used for domestic consumption instead of being exported to Japan. Kompas reported Saturday.

Speaking to reporters during his visit in the Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi province on Friday, Kalla said that between one and two tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to be produced from the Donggi-Senoro LNG plant should be used to supply a fertilizer plant which would be built in the province.

The other part of the production could be shipped for industries in Java, he said. ?If there is still any surplus, it can be exported to Japan,? he said, adding that the decision on the use of the Donggi-Senoro LNG production had been made during his recent meeting with related government agencies

He acknowledged that one of the officials attending the meeting was worried that the change in the allocation for the Donggi-Senoro LNG could anger Japan because a consortium consisting PT Pertamina, Medco Energi International and Mitsubishi Corp. which would build the plant had reached an initial agreement to export the LNG to Japan.

?How if the Japanese get angry? Just tell them that the decision was made by the Vice President, and they would understand,? Kalla said.

Kalla said that a fertilizer plant should be soon be built in Sulawesi to absorb the LNG production from the Donggi and Senoro. The plant construction should be completed within two years.

?I have told related government offices to study the construction of the fertilizer plant. The government will finance the project,? he said. (*)