Govt forms teams to boost domestic gas use
Thursday, November 28 2002 - 07:03 AM WIB
Announcement on the formation of the teams was made through a press statement released by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
The first team is in charge of boosting the use of natural gas in Jakarta City; the second team is tasked with handling the use and preparation of gas for the industrial sector in 2003, while the third one deals with strategies of boosting the use of gas in Indonesia.
The press statement said that State Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Transportation and the Jakarta City administration jointly coordinate the first team, while the second team falls under the coordination of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Sate Ministry of Research and Technology oversees the third team.
The team under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources carries out the task studying natural gas supply, gas supply and use in the regions, gas supply infrastructure. The team also has the task of producing economic and environmental analyses, formulating strategies of boosting gas use and government policies related to national gas use. It is expected to complete its work in June 2003.
Together, the teams will eventually produce scenarios about strategic and action plans of boosting domestic gas use.
The ministry said in the statement that domestic gas use was still low because more than 60 percent of natural gas produced in Indonesia is for exports. It said that domestic gas supply goes to the power generation sector (9.2 percent), manufacturing and refinery sector (9.5 percent), fertilizer industry (7.7 percent), city gas sector (2.5 percent) and transportation (0.1 percent).
The ministry said Indonesia?s proven gas reserves total 92.2 trillion cubic feet (TCF), and potential reserves reach 75.8 TCF.
The government had planned to boost domestic use of natural gas in order to reduce domestic demand for oil. (leo/robert)