Repair work interrupts gas supply to Riau and Singapore

A repair work to be carried out at the gas receiving facilities of ConocoPhilips' oil field in Grissik, South Sumtara this week will cause an interruption in the gas supply from the company's gas field to Riau, Batam and Singapore, Bisnis Indonesia reported on Monday.

Usman, a supervisor of the office of state owned gas distribution company PGN in Batam, said that the planned repair work would not only affect the gas distribution in Batam, but also in Riau and Singapore.

According to him, the company's several major customers such as PLN Batam, PT Citra Tubindo and PT Ecogreen would receive a significant drop in the gas supply due to the repair works which would be carried out for a week beginning June 13.

"In Riau, major customers such as PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper would also be affected by the fall in the gas supply," he said. PLN Batam last week said that it would stop the operation of its two power plants on the island due to the halt in the gas supply.

ConocoPhilips supplies about 600 million cubic feet of gas per day through the 477 km pipeline which links its gas field in Grissik, South Sumatra to Riau, Batam and Singapore. (*)