RI?s LNG export remains unaffected by global crisis

By Godang Sitompul

Indonesia?s LNG export has not yet been affected by the current global economic crisis as demand from the country?s key export markets remain strong, Head of upstream authority BPMIGAS, R. Priyono said.

?It (the crisis) has not yet affected Indonesia?s LNG export,? Priyono told Petromindo.com Friday. He is optimistic that the global LNG market will remain vibrant this year.

The country?s key traditional LNG export markets include Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. He said that Japan has continued to rely on its non-nuclear power plants.

Hari Karyuliarto, Director of Gas at state-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina, confirmed that there has been no decline in LNG demand from both the traditional and international markets.

?There?s no decline in demand because Japan is still facing the nuclear problem, and the Asian economies are still in good shape,? he said, without providing further details.

Earlier reports said that the country?s LNG export in 2012 from the Papua, Arun and Bontang was targeted to reach nearly US$14 billion.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak