Megawati to inaugurate S. Sumatra-S?pore gas pipeline project

President Megawati Sukarnoputri is scheduled to inaugurate the operation of the US$100 million gas pipeline project linking South Sumatra and Singapore on Monday in a ceremony to be attended by Singapore?s Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and energy ministers from other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Koran Tempo reported on Tuesday.

President Director of state owned gas distribution company PGN, WMP Simanjuntak, said in Jakarta on Monday that the inauguration of the gas pipeline marked the completion of the early stage of the US$7 billion Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline project that would in long term link all the association?s member countries.

?With the completion of the South Sumatra-Singapore gas pipeline project, Indonesia will raise an annual revenue from gas sales of about US$700 million,? Simanjuntak said after a meeting with Vice President Hamzah Has.

The development of the gas pipeline, which has a capacity of transmitting about 350 to 600 million cubic feet per day, was completed on schedule. The pipeline connects ConocoPhillips? gas field in South Sumatra and Singapore through Kuala Tangka in eastern coast of Sumatra, Batam island and Kempin isle which is located near the border with the neighboring country.

Simanjuntak said that the South Sumatra-Singapore pipeline would be also part of the Trans Indonesia Gas Pipe Line project which is now under preparation. ?The first stage of this project will be constructed next year linking South Sumatra and West Java. (*)