Forestry Ministry supports CBM gas development

By Bambang Atmaja

The Ministry of Forestry supports the exploitation of Coal Bed Methane (CBM) gas potential located in deep forest areas as the country will need more gas to support higher economic growth.

Secretary General of the ministry Hadi Daryanto said Tuesday that the unearthing of CBM potential in the forest will not necessarily cause harm to the country?s valuable forest as only a small part of the forest area would be affected.

He added that there?s huge CBM gas potential trapped in the country?s forest.

"We are now lacking gas. The CBM potential trapped deeply in the forest can be used. The exploration will not cause any damage on forest," he told Petromindo.com.

The government is struggling to shift the country?s reliance on fossil-based fuel, whose reserve is dwindling, into gas-based fuel, whose reserve is quite abundant.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak