Mahathir to attend maiden gas delivery from W. Natuna to Malaysia on Aug 8

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and President Megawati Sukarnoputri are scheduled to dedicate on August 8 the maiden gas delivery from West Natuna field to Malaysia, an oil and gas source told Petromindo.Com on Thursday.

On the same occasion, the two leaders will also officiate at the signing of final agreement between state oil and gas company Pertamina and Malaysia?s national energy firm Petronas to supply gas to Malaysia from South Sumatra, the source said.

Mahathir will arrive in Jakarta on August 7 for a two-day official visit.

Natural gas to be delivered to Malaysia on August 8 will be from the field operated by Conoco Indonesia Inc. Ltd, a subsidiary of US energy giant Conoco Inc. Ltd. A 96-kilometer pipeline will transmit 250 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) of gas from West Natuna to Malaysia?s Doyong platform, under a 20-year contract.

Meanwhile, gas for Malaysia from South Sumatra will be supplied by PT Gulf Indonesia Resources, a subsidiary of Conoco Canada Resources.

Earlier reports said negotiations between Pertamina-Gulf Indonesia Resources and Petronas were about plans of delivering 350 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) of gas from South Sumatra to Malaysia. (leo)