Govt wants Trans Kaltim pipeline to be open access

The Trans Kaltim gas pipeline that the government plans to build in gas-rich East Kalimantan province next year is expected to be an open-access facility, the Directorate General of Oil and Gas said in a statement on Thursday.

?We want to the pipeline can be used for gas connections to households, gas stations and industries. We are thus inclined to have an open-access pipeline,? Director General of Oil and Gas IGN Wiratmaja said in a workshop.

The project will be auctioned by BPH Migas, he said.

The project is expected to be completed within five years. At present, there has been a pipeline stretching from Handil to Bontang. Next, a pipeline will built from Handil to Samarinda, which will be linked to Balikpapan and Kutai Kertanegara.

It is expected that the existing power plants in the province that use oil fuels will switch to gas. Pipelines to power plants will thus need to be developed. A total of 100 mmscfd of gas has been allocated for power plants in the province.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon