Govt to complete petrochemical plant study in W. Papua

A special team of analysts from several governmental agencies and companies is finalizing a feasibility study for the development of a petrochemical plant near the Tangguh LNG complex in West Papua province.

The result of the study will be submitted to Vice President Jusuf Kalla in April.

Director General of Oil and Gas Evita H. Legowo said in Jakarta on Thursday she was optimistic the result of the study would be positive.

?Gas from (the fields controlled by British firm) BP is not as large as previously estimated. But, there are are other sources. Thus, I think it is possible to build a petrochemical plant there,? Evita said.

The study is carried out as part of the government?s plan to develop West Papua as one of the country?s major petrochemical centers. Several agencies are taking part in the study, including oil and gas upstream regulator BPMIGAS, technology assessment and application agency BPPT, the Finance Ministry., fertilizer producer PT PUSRI and state engineering company PT Rekayasa Industri. (godang).