PLN to use oil as ONWJ will halt operations

PT Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE), a subsidiary of state owned oil and gas company Pertamina, plans to shut down operation of the company?s Offshore North West Java (ONWJ) gas field for about 20 days to allow maintenance works, Kontan reported on Friday

PHE President Director Salis S. Apilian said in Jakarta on Thursday that the total shutdown would be carried out from Jan. 21 to Feb. 11, this year to allow maintenance and reparation works at existing production facilities.

The supply of gas to state electricity company PLN and state owned fertilizer company PT Pupuk Kujang would be temporarily cut during the shutdown. PLN receives gas supply of 100 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) for the company?s two combined cycle power plants PLTU Muara Karang and PLTGU Tanjung Priuk. Pupuk Kujang receives about 60 MMSCFD.

Besides gas, ONWJ also produces oil. Last year, it produced 32,000 barrels of oil per day, exceeding the initial target of 31,000 bpd. This year, the company expects to produce about 35,000 bpd.

Meanwhile, the head of oil and gas division at PLN, Suryadi Mardjoeki, said that PLN had been informed about the shutdown plan. He said during the shutdown, PLN would use oil to operate the two power plants.

The two power plants will consume 2.80 kiloliters diesel oil per day during the shutdown of ONWJ production activities, he said. (*)