Govt seeks Zhu?s support for LNG Tangguh

The government is set to ask the Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji during his four-day visit here, which kicked off Wednesday, to give priority to the Tangguh liquefied natural gas (LNG) project to supply LNG to China, a minister confirmed.

The Jakarta Post reported that Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro has said on Wednesday the possibility of Chinese support would be feasible given the fact that British American energy giant BP Plc, the parent company of the Tangguh LNG contractor BP, was previously selected to establish one of the receiving terminals in the Chinese province of Guangdong.

?We will request him (Zhu Rongji) to realistically consider Tangguh,? Purnomo, after opening a two-day mining and electricity exhibition and conference, was quoted by the post as saying.

He added that the government would also propose the Chinese premier to speed up the Guangdong LNG tender.

The tender is planned to be issued sometime this year.

The Guangdong LNG supply contract offers potential sales totaling 3 million tons of LNG annually, beginning in 2005.

A deal with China would pave the way for the construction of the LNG plant in Tangguh, which Pertamina would jointly develop with BP. (*)