Purnomo to visit China Nov 25, seek new LNG buyers

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro will visit China on Nov 25 in order to probe the possibility of selling more liquefied natural gas (LNG) to that country, a senior government official told Petromindo.com on Monday.

Several government officials including those from BP-Migas will join Purnomo in his visit to China, BP-Migas chairman Rachmat Sudibjo said. BP-Migas holds the highest authority over Indonesia?s oil and gas upstream sector.

Purnomo said earlier that he would meet with Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji during his visit to that country. ?Our target is to supply LNG to China in the biggest volumes possible,? Purnomo said after meeting with President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

Indonesia signed contract with China in September to annually supply 2.6 million tons of LNG to Fujian, the first gas supply accord ever reached between the two countries.

The cumulative value of the contract is US$8.5 billion. (godang)