Fertilizer plants in Java will have enough gas supply next year: Minister

Minister of Industry Fahmi Idris said Wednesday that he was optimistic fertilizer producers PT Pupuk Kujang in Cikampek, West Java and PT Petrokimia Gresik (Petrogres) in Gresik, East Java would have no more problem with gas supply beginning next year thanks to the operation of the South Sumatra-West Java gas pipeline and the operation of new gas field offshore East Java.

The minister said that with the operation of the South Sumatra-West Java gas pipeline at the end of October, major industries in West Java including PT Pupuk Kujang would no longer suffer a problem with their gas supply.

He said that besides the commencement of the gas transmission from the South Sumatra-West Java gas pipeline, the gas users in West Java would also have an additional gas supply from BP's offshore gas field in the northern part of Java.

Like PT Pupuk Kujang, PT Petrokimia Gresik is also expected to have no more problem with the gas supply beginning next year with the operation of the Maleo gas field offshore East Java.

He said the Maleo gas field operated by Santos had begun production early this month, with an initial production capacity of about 110 million standard cubic per day. (*)