Soetikno named new PGN president (Update 2)

(Adds statement from new management on program and projects)

Shareholders of publicly-listed state owned gas distribution and transmission company PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) has chosen Soetikno as new president to replace WMP Simanjuntak, a senior governmental official said on Friday.

Soetikno, who was company director of general affairs during Simanjuntak leadership, will be assisted by financial director Joko Pramono and development director Adil Abbas, said Roes Aryawidjaya, Deputy Sate Minister of State Enterprises for energy, mining and strategic industries, after the company?s extraordinary shareholders meeting.

Simanjuntak was elected by shareholders as company new commissioner.

Roes said Soetikno will also act as director of business and Joko as director of general affairs on temporary basis until State Minister of State Enterprises choose people to fill in the positions.

Following the shareholders meeting, Soetikno told reporters that the new management would continue all the current projects being developed by PGN, including the South Sumatra-West Java pipeline, and further strengthen the company?s management.

?Our priority is to complete the SSWJ (South Sumatra West Java) project. We shall boost management strength, give a clear restructuring direction, and develop business in a good and focused way,? Soetikno said.

Adil, who keeps his position as development director, said that PGN will speed up the development of pipeline linking Duri in Riau and Medan in North Sumatra.

Also, PGN will push ahead with its plan to build an LNG terminal in Situbondo, East Java to strengthen gas supplies to the region.

?We have talked with East Kalimantan gas producers such as Total and Vico on possible LNG supply to the terminal,? Adil said, adding that PGN was doing a feasibility study on the project.

Corporate secretary Widyatmoko Bapang added that aside from the East Kalimantan gas producers, PGN is seeking talks with LNG producers in Qatar, Kuwait and Brunei Darussalam on possible supplies to the planned Situbondo LNG terminal

Adil also said the PGN would go ahead with its plan to develop coal bed methane (CBM) with Australian firm Santos in South Sumatra.

?The (CBM) project is now on feasibility study phase,? he said. (Godang/Denny)