House demands W. Natuna-Singapore gas meter to be moved to Indonesia

The House of Representatives VIII on energy has asked upstream authority BP Migas, the government's agency in charge of oil and gas exploration and production activities, to move the gas meter of ConocoPhillips, Star Energy and Premier Oil from Singapore to Indonesia, Kompas reported on Thursday.

The request was made during a hearing with the chairman of BP Migas, Rachmat Soedibyo in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The gas meter which calculates the volume of gas supplied from West Natuna to Singapore should be moved to Indonesia not because “we do not trust in buyers but because it is against the law," lawmaker Djusril Djusan said.

He said that according to the existing excise and duty law, any measurement equipment of the Indonesian commodities should be installed within the country's territory.

Meanwhile, Rachmat said that the relocation of the gas meter from Singapore's Sakra island to Indonesia would cost at least US$70 million. He said that the possible miscalculation of the gas transmitted to Singapore could also be eliminated by comparing it to that calculated in the gas meter installed by the gas suppliers. (*)