PLN to reroute gas from Jambi Merang to power plant in Batam
Monday, July 1 2013 - 01:48 AM WIB
State-owned electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) will divert part of the gas from Jambi Merang field to power plant in Batam as supply from the Suban field within the Corridor Block, South Sumatra would be disrupted due to a pipe tie in work carried out by operator ConocoPhillips.
Vice Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Susilo Siswoutomo told Petromindo.com Monday that the move would help avoid power black out in Batam.
Susilo explained that gas from the Jambi Merang field, operated by Hess, is dedicated for PLN?s gas-fired Muara Tawar power plant in Bekasi, West Java. But since supply from the Suban field is expected to drop by up to 40 bbtud for gas industrial customers in Batam including PLN when ConocoPhillips will carry out the pipe tie in work on July 1-5, PLN will divert about 10 bbtud of gas from the Jambi Merang field to the power plant in Batam.
?God willing the gas supply issue for the power plant in Batam has been resolved, so that hopefully there won?t be any blackout,? Susilo said.
Separately, Business Director at state-owned gas distribution firm PGN, Jobi Triananda confirmed that as a result of the pipe tie in, gas fro ConocoPhillips will decline by up to 40 bbtud from its normal supply volume 54-56 bbtufd to PLN and industrial customers in Batam. ?As a result, we have to cut down our supply to our customers including to PLN.?
Head of PLN Gas and Fuel Division, Suryadi Mardjoeki confirmed that PLN will switch about 10 bbtud of gas from Jambi Merang to the power plant in Batam.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak