PHE unable to deliver gas from Jambi Merang block
Thursday, August 24 2017 - 06:37 AM WIB
Upstream company PT Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE) said it has not been able to deliver gas from the Jambi Merang block in South Sumatra to the PLTGU Muara Tawar combined-cycle power plant in Bekasi, West Java, as the required gas metering in the transmission pipeline has yet to be installed.
PHE President Director Gunung Sardjono told Petromindo.com that the Sungai Kenawang gas plant at the Jambi Merang block has been ready to deliver around 20 bbtud of gas to Muara Tawar power plant operated by state-owned electricity firm PT PLN.
The Jambi Merang block is operated by Joint Operating Body (JOB) PHE Jambi Merang-Talisman Energy Jambi Merang.
The gas was supposed to be transmitted via upstream pipeline of JOB PHE Jambi Merang-Talisman Energi Jambi Merang, tied-in with the South Sumatera to East Java (SSWJ) pipeline owned by IDX-listed gas distribution firm PT PGN to the Muara Tawar power plant.
?The pipeline has been completed from SKN (Sungai Kenawang gas plant) to Grissik. What is still missing is the gas metering, supposedly to be installed by PLN or PGN,? Gunung said, but declined to provide further details.
But Head of Gas and Fuel Division at PLN, Chairani Rachmatullah told Petromindo.com that gas from the Jambi Merang block has yet to be transmitted to the Muara Tawar plant because the tie-in process of the pipeline has yet to be completed.
?Gas from the upstream can?t flow to Java because the upstream pipeline has yet to be tied-in with the PGN pipeline linking Java. The expected volume from Jambi Merang is 20 bbtud,? she said.
Jambi Merang block currently has production rate of 155 mmscfd of gas, and condensates of 6,000 bpcd.
Partners in the JOB are PHE Jambi Merang, Talisman (Jambi Merang) Ltd, and Pacific Oil and Gas Group. The current contract over the Jambi Merang block is set to expire in 2019. The government has decided to transfer the block to state-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina, PHE?s parent, after the contract expires, which will be allowed to seek partners. Talisman reportedly has expressed interest to continue participate in the future development of Jambi Merang block.
According to its website, the JOB Pertamina-Talisman Jambi Merang has two operating fields namely Sungai Kenawang and Pulai Gading in Bayung Lencir District, Musi Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak