Inpex announces natural gas production launch in Indonesia

Inpex Corp. said Wednesday the Japanese oil developer and its partners have launched natural gas production at the APN offshore gas field, part of the oil and gas concession off Northwestern Java (ONWJ).

Inpex has a 7.25 percent stake in the concession. Among other stakeholders, BP plc owns 46 percent and operatorship, China's CNOOC Ltd. 36.72 percent and Japan's Itochu Oil Exploration Co. 2.58 percent.

Natural gas output at the APN gas field is used for thermal power stations, small companies and households in Indonesia, Inpex said. Daily production is expected to reach 100 million cubic feet next year.

In Indonesia, the Inpex group has also participated in supply of gas to East Kalimantan and to Singapore and Malaysia. It plans to launch gas production in Southeastern Sumatra in 2006 and kick off production of liquefied natural gas in Tangguh, western Java, in 2008.(*)