PLN: Four new CNG storage plants to start operation before end-2013
Monday, September 9 2013 - 01:29 AM WIB
State-owned electricity company PT. Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) expects four new CNG storage plants to be completed and operated before the end of this year.
PLN Head of Gas and Fuel Division Suryadi Mardjoeki told Petromindo.com Monday that the Duri CNG storage plant in Riau was scheduled to start operation in October. This will be followed with the operation of the Sei Gelam, Tambak Lorok and Muara Tawar CNG storage plants, located respectively in Jambi, Semarang (Central Java), and in Bekasi (West Java).
With the completion of three additional CNG facilities, PLN would have completed and operated a total of six CNG storage plants in 2013 with a combined capacity of 73.5 bbtud, all of which are located near its power plants, Suryadi said.
He said that the construction of the CNG storage plants is to help increase power supply during peak load as well as reduce the use of more expensive diesel fuel.
In April of this year, PLN inaugurated the operation of its first CNG storage plant in Jakabaring, South Sumatra, followed with the operation of the Grati CNG storage plant, the world?s largest, in East Java.
The gas for the six CNG facilities comes from gas fields operated by Medco EP Indonesia, Santos, Hess Jambi Merang, Energi Mega Persada, PT Pertamina EP, and PGN Suryadi said.
The Jakabaring CNG plant obtains 3.5 bbtud of gas from Medco, Grati CNG 15 bbtud of gas volume from Santos, Duri CNG 5 bbtud from Hess Jambi Merang, Sei Gelam CNG 5 bbtud from Energi Mega Persada/Pertamina EP, Tambak Lorok CNG 20 bbtud from Gundih field operated by Pertamina EP, and Tambak Lorok 25 bbtud from state-owned gas distribution firm PGN.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak