Indonesia may buy LNG from Qatar

Indonesia, the world's largest LNG exporter, plans to buy the fuel from Qatar in 2008 as output from the Southeast Asian country's gas fields falls, Energy Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said today.

The Persian Gulf country has agreed to supply LNG to Indonesia in 2008 and 2009 to enable the country to meet its commitments to customers, Purnomo told reporters in Jakarta Friday.

Indonesia has failed to fulfill sales contract with Japan, South Korea and Taiwan as falling reserves cut supplies to its LNG plants. Qatar has the world's third-largest gas reserves and plans to become the world's biggest exporter of LNG by 2010.

"Qatar has agreed in principle" to supply the cargoes, Purnomo said. "How much LNG we get will depend on Qatar's gas policy, which will be issued soon."

Purnomo returned to Jakarta Thursday after accompanying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on a visit to the Middle East. They visited Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Jordan.(*)