Ministry has yet to receive formal request for gas import

Despite the noisy campaign from electricity firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) and industrial gas consumers that gas import is a solution to the ongoing gas shortage problem faced by industries at home, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has yet to receive any formal request for gas import.

Director General of Oil and Gas at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Evita Legowo said that existing regulation allows for the import of gas as long as the importer has obtained the permit from the Ministry of Trade. But to get that permit, the importer must have a letter of recommendation from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

Evita said that no such request has been made with her office. She explained that before giving such recommendation, her office would first evaluate the supply and demand condition at home, and the availability of infrastructure facilities such as LNG receiving terminal to facilitate the gas import.

Evita said that the country?s first LNG receiving terminal would only be available in 2012. This means that it would make no sense of making gas import request for now.

Minister of Industry MS Hidayat was quoted by the press earlier that his office has given a principle permit for gas import. (*)