Govt mulling new gas pipeline

The government is considering building a new gas pipeline between Cirebon and Bekasi in West Java in order to integrate the gas pipeline networks linking Java to South Sumatra and East Kalimantan. The Jakarta Post reported on Wednesday.

Oil and Gas Downstream Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas) chairman Tubagus Haryono said in Jakarta on Tuesday that the construction of the 220-kilometer gas pipeline would cost between US$200 million and $300 million.

He said that the government needed to hold further discussions in relation to the plan as Pertamina already had a 180-kilometer-long gas pipeline from Cirebon to a Kandanghaur Timur, which was currently not being fully utilized.

?We have scheduled a series of meeting from June 8 to 10 to discuss the matter,? he said. ?During the meetings, we will determine whether will be for the extension of the existing pipeline or the construction of a new one.?

He said that the construction of the Bekasi-Cirebon gas pipeline was part of the government?s master plan to develop an integrated national gas transmission and distribution network.

The government is currently constructing a number of gas pipelines, comprising a 366.5-kilometer-long pipeline from Pagar Dewa, South Sumatra to Cilegon, West Java, a 290-kilometer-long pipeline from Cirebon to Semarang, Central Java, a 399-kilometer long pipeline from Semarang to Gresik, East Java and a 1,219-kilometer-long pipeline from Gresik to East Kalimantan.

The planned Bekasi-Cirebon pipeline would be linked, to the South Sumatra-Cilegon network, he said. With the construction of the pipeline, all the national gas pipeline networks would be connected.

Each of the pipelines will have, a capacity of between 250 and 700 million standard cubic feet of gas per day.

With total reserves of 188.34 trillion standard cubic feet, Indonesia has some of the biggest gas reserves in the world. However, a lack of distribution infrastructure has hampered the use of gas for domestic needs. (*)