Indonesia to use gas for domestic needs: Vice President

Vice President Yusuf Kalla reiterated on Saturday the government?s stance that the nation should prioritize the domestic needs in its natural gas energy policy.

Speaking in Batam during his visit to the industrial areas of Batam and Bintan, Yusuf said that Indonesia should change its energy police to help develop industries in the country. Rather than exporting its natural gas, Indonesia should allocate most of its natural gas for the domestic market.

?Now, industries must follow our energy policy. Whereas our natural gas has been exported to industries outside the country over the past 30 years, it?s time to prioritize the domestic needs and our industries. Those who want to get our gas supplies should come to Indonesia,? Yusuf was quoted by Kompas as saying in its Sunday edition.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has also often expressed similar statement.

Indonesia produced about 2.16 trillion cubic feet of gas per year, more than 75 percent of which are exported to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore in the form of LNG or through pipes. The makes Indonesia the world?s largest gas exporter.

The government's data say Indonesia has proven gas reserves of 97.3 trillion cubit feet (TCF) until the end of last year, while proven and probable reserves are estimated at 180 TCF. (*)