PLN told to share its gas with Petrokimia

State electricity firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) has been told to share its gas with PT Petrokimia Gresik to help normalize the gas supply given that the option of supplying gas through pipeline is not safe.

PLN, however, has expressed its objection to do so for fear that it may cause blackouts.

?From the point of (supply) safety, it would be better not to force supplying gas through pipeline because all the pipelines pass through mudflow area (at Sidoarjo). It is better for Petrokimia to discuss the issue on gas sahring with PLN," deputy chairman of oil and gas upstream regulator BP Migas, Trijana Kartoatmodjo said.

PLN needs around 92 million cubic feet gas per day from EMP and Kodeco to run one block of its combine-cycled power plant 500 MW in Gresik, while Petrokimia receives 50 million cubic feet from EMP. The explosion of Pertamina?s gas pipeline at Sidoarjo lead to the stoppage of gas supply from Pertamina to Petrokimia.

For Petrokimia, the government has offered it to use PGN?s gas distribution line, whose location is not far from the pipeline that was exploded. But Trijana said the national team dealing with mudflow rejected the option because it is located very close to the relief well-1. This pipeline was not used for a long time and its diameter is not enough to accommodate the pressure of gas not more than 100 bars.

?We neither want to take the risk nor want similar explosion to reoccur," Trijana said.

It will be safe if the pipeline is relocated but it will take at least nine months. Any how Petrokimia must operate, he said.

Petrokimia?s president director Arifin Tasrif said compare to PGN and PLN, Petrokimia is in a very difficult position because it is located far from the gas pipelines.

?If we wait for relocation, it means we have to close down (plant) for at least 10 months,? Arifin said.

The financial loss may reach Rp 2.5 Trillion if the plant is closed down, Arifin added. (godang)