Gas supply to ceramic factories in serious problem

Gas supply from state owned gas distribution company Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) to ceramic industries here has been in a serious problem due to the drop in supply from state oil and gas firm PT Pertamina, Bisnis Indonesia reported on Friday.

Chairman of the Association of the Indonesian Ceramic Industries (Asaki) Ahmad Wijaya said in Jakarta on Thursday that the gas supply from PGN to the ceramic producers had been seriously interrupted during the period of October and November, this year.

"The gas supply to ceramic industries had been cut for every two days during October and November, causing a serious problem in the production activities," he said.

Wijaya said PGN had warned the industries that the same problem would occur again next year due to further decline in the gas supply from Pertamina.

He said that the decline in the gas supply would affect all industries but the ceramic producers which consume almost 45 percent of the national gas production was the first to receive the warning from PGN.

Wijaya said that the gas supply has been in serious problem due to the renovation of Pertamina's gas facilities. (*)