PGN?s gas supply to East Java returns to normal

State gas distribution and transmission firm PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) said the supply of gas to its industrial customers in East Java, which was disrupted by the explosion of the East Java Gas Pipeline (EJGP) in Porong Sidoarjo, has returned to normal.

?At around 6.25 p.m. we got an approval (on the channeling of gas) from the Directorate General of Oil and Gas, the Nasional Team and state oil and gas company PT Pertamina. At least 90 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) was channeled at around 9 p.m.,? said PGN?s corporate secretary Widyatmiko Bapang in Jakarta on Sunday.

He explained that the channeling of gas could return to normal following a move taken by PGN and Pertamina to install a line valve, which was 28 inches in diameter in PGN?s Offtake Station in Porong, East Java.

?Through the installation of the line valve, the gas supply is shifted to the existing interconnection and distribution networks owned by PGN, namely Pasuruan, Mojokerto and Waru,? he said.

According to Widyatmoko, with the shifting of the gas transmission pipeline, the gas supply to 250 industrial customers in East Java from gas sources in Maleo field in offshore Madura Strait owned by Santos can return to normal.

The recovered gas supply, he continued, could also minimize the potential reduction of income which was estimated earlier to reach US$6 million. ?This is possible thanks to good coordination between PGN, Pertamina, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry and other related ministries involved in handling the emergency situation,? he said.

Next steps, he said, PGN and Pertamina would speed up efforts to relocate Pertamina?s pipeline to a safer location so that gas from Santos can be optimally used.

Steps to recover the stalled gas supply will be taken in stages. In a short-term stage, the gas supply is channeled through PGN?s existing network with solution time target for three days. In the stage, the gas supply to Gresik combined cycled power plant has also been shifted to a pipeline network owned by Kodeco.

In the medium term stage, efforts will be made to replace damaged pipelines to recover the resumption of gas supply to Petrokimia Gresik, with solution time target of between two and three weeks.

As for a long-term stage, efforts will be made to relocate EJGP pipelines to a safer area which is free from threat of Lapindo mudflow. Under the pipeline relocation plan, a new 15 km-long pipeline will be installed crossing Porong River and a railway track. (godang)