Indonesia?s LNG export to Japan unaffected by Tsunami

Indonesia?s LNG export to Japan might not be disrupted despite the big Tsunami that hit the country last week devastated a number of port infrastructure.

Gde Pradnyana, spokesperson of upstream oil, gas authority BPMIGAS said that the LNG receiving terminal Sendai, in the east coast of Japan that was used by Tohoku Electric to process LNG imported from BP-operated Tangguh LNG is unaffected by the Tsunami, as it was located in a relatively protected bay.

?Beside, Indonesia?s LNG export to East Coast, which is the worst-hit area is only account for two cargoes a year,? he said, adding that LNG export to Japan?s west coast area, which account for 148 cargoes this year, will not likely be affected as the area is not badly impacted by the Tsunami. All of Indonesia?s LNG export to West Coast is sourced from Bontang LNG plant in East Kalimantan.

So far, he said, there is no request for shipment delay from the Japanese buyers.

He, however, said that a number of gas-fired power plants, which part of gas is sourced from Indonesia, had reportedly been affected by the quake. ?Hopefully the power plants could resume normal operations soon,? he said.

Separately, Hari Karulyanto, Corporate Secretary of state oil, gas company PT Pertamina (Persero) which handles Indonesia?s LNG export to Japan said that two cargoes from Bontang have been allowed to berth in Nagoya and Osaka receiving terminals on Sunday after being previously delayed for fear of high wave and quake aftermath.

Meanwhile, Wibowo S. Wirjawan, Deputy Chairman of BPMIGAS said that Indonesia is anticipating higher spot LNG demand from Japan, as a number of the country?s nuclear plant have collapsed. ?We are coordinating with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to see if Indonesia can set aside extra cargoes for Japan,? he said. (godang)