PGN?s gas pipeline project may be delayed for two months

The full operation of the South Sumatra-West Java gas pipeline currently being built by state-owned gas pipeline Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) might be delayed for two months as floods continue to impede the construction works at one of the pipeline segment in South Sumatra, Kontan reported Tuesday.

 

PGN's president director Sutikno said in Jakarta on Monday that the pipeline's full operation may be delayed until September, or two months behind the initial schedule because the four-kilometer segment of the pipeline linking Grissik and Pagardewa could not be completed on time due to the floods.

 

"We will announce next week how long the pipeline project will be delayed," he told members of the House of Representatives (DPR) during a hearing. He, however, said that the delay would not really affect the gas volume, which would be transmitted through the pipeline because the pipeline segment would be able only to provide gas of about 50 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD).

 

The Grissik-Pagardewa pipeline is part of PGN's two gas pipelines linking Pagardewa in South Sumatra, and Cilegon, Banten, and Pagardewa and Muara Bekasi, West Java. The first section connecting Cilegon has begun operation early this year, while the second section linking Muara Bekasi is initially scheduled for operation in July.

 

When fully operated, the two gas pipelines will be able to provide gas supply of up to 232 million cubic feet per day to both the company's customers in Cilegon and in Bekasi. (*)