Indonesia to develop carbon capture research center

Indonesia is building a research and information center for carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Gundih, East Java province for universities, research agencies of the government and the private sector to collaborate in mastering and developing CCS, the Directorate General of Oil and Gas said in a statement on Monday.

The government will also develop a CCS pilot project at so-called Center of Excellence for CCS, Director General of Oil and Gas IGN Wiratmaja said recently at an international symposium entitled ?Present and Future of CCS? held in Tokyo, according to the statement.

Speaking in front of an attendance of 60 coming from Japan, the United States, Indonesia and other countries, Wiratmaja said Indonesia has two goals in promoting CCS technology. First, it is in line with Indonesia?s commitment to reducing greenhouse effects as spoken by the President during last year?s COP21 in Paris. Indonesia is committed to reducing greenhouse by 29 on self-effort scenario or 41 percent on international-assistance scenario.

Secondly, Indonesia needs CCS technology to produce oil and gas fields with high CO2 and other pollutant contents. According to Wiratmaja, the Natuna gas field, which is the largest gas field ever discovered in Indonesia, has 222 tcf of gas reserve, 70 percent of which is CO2. The development of this field needs CCS technology. Besides, there are many fields in Indonesia with relatively big oil in place but high CO2 and other pollutant contents which can be further developed through EOR process.

He said Indonesia?s efforts to research CCS is financially supported by ADB, JICA, World Bank and the British and Norwegian governments. The Indonesian government has screened oil fields which can be used as CO2 storage as well as oil fields where EOR can be carried out by utilizing CO2. Indonesia, he said, welcome collaboration in developing CCS technology.

During the event, Wiratmaja also said a change in Indonesia?s paradigm in developing energy. In the new paradigm, Indonesia will build massive energy infrastructures, particularly in eastern Indonesia. Investment for the infrastructure development is estimated at US$24.3 billion. The Indonesian government is inviting investors to participate in the projects. Indonesia is also serious in improving investment climate by simplifying regulations and implementing good governance in the oil and gas industry.

During the visit to Japan, Wiratmaja also paid a visit to Tokyo Gas?s LNG Terminal in Negishi, JFE and Japan Cooperation Center.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon