PGN gives industrial sector customers a priority

State gas distributor PT PGN will continue to increase gas supply to industrial sector, whose demand has been on the raise over the past years, to help support the government?s industrial output growth target of 6.5 percent this year.

?We are committed to keep increasing gas supply to customers. But, the main priority is the industrial sector which as a strategic role in accelerating national economic growth,? President Director Hendi Prio Santoso said in a media statement released on Thursday.

Thanks to the government?s energy conversion program, gas demand from industry has been rising. While in 2007 industry consumed 416 mmscfd of gas, the figure increased to 771 mmscfd by the end of last year. The number of industry sector customers has also risen exponentially, from 873 to 1245 during the same period.

In addition to increasing supply, PGN will continue also to expand its gas transmission and infrastructure network, in particular in the Greater Jakarta areas and East Java. ?We hope the gas infrastructure development will make it easier for industrial sector to carry out the gas conversion program,? he said.

At present, PGN?s network has reached over 5,900 km.

Editing by Dadan Wijaksana