ExxonMobil to reopen gas fields late June: Purnomo

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro said that the operation of ExxonMobil?s gas fields in Lhokseumawe, Aceh would be resumed again by the end of this month after being closed for almost three months due to security concerns in the troubled province, Suara Karya reported on Wednesday.

The minister said in Jakarta on Tuesday that the reopening of the gas fields would pave the way for the resumption of the activities of Pertamina?s liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in the area, which had also stopped operation due to the lack of the gas supply from the field.

The minister hoped the Arun LNG plant would resume its normal operation in July so that it would be able to continue its LNG exports to Japan and South Korea, which, during its closure, were fulfilled by the East Kalimantan-based Bontang LNG plant.

According to the minister, about 200 of ExxonMobil?s workers had returned to works to prepare the re-operation of the gas fields.

Pertamina earlier said that repair work is expected to take three weeks before reopening of the gas fields in stages. The supply of the natural gas during the first week after the repair work will be sufficient enough to run 50 percent of the Arun LNG plant?s capacity.

The LNG plant, which operates four LNG trains, is expected to operate at a full capacity by the end of July.(*)