PLN supposedly to receive Sempra gas

By Godang Sitompul

State owned electricity PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) is among the companies that will receive LNG from the Tangguh LNG plant in West Papua that is supposed to be delivered to American firm Sempra Energy, according to an industrial source.

?A decision on the allocation of the Sempra gas has been made during the meeting in London between top officials from Indonesia and top executives of BP Plc. The Sempra gas will be diverted to Japan,, South Korea, PLN and (state owned fertilizer firm) PT Pupuk Iskandar Muda,? the source said.

PLN cautiously welcome the news.

?If the information is correct, that means gas supply to our power plant in Belawan (in North Sumatra), will be assured,? PLN?s Oil Fuel and Gas Division Head Suryadi Mardjoeki told Petromindo.com.

Director General of Oil and Gas Evita H. Legowo however cast doubt over the news.

?There isn?t yet any decision (on the allocation of the Sempra gas),? she said.

Hadi Prasetyo, spokesman of upstream authority BPMIGAS, also denied that a decision has been made regarding the allocation of the Sempra gas.

?No decision has been made regarding the export of the LNG,? he said.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon