Vessel carrying Bontang LNG leaving for Jakarta

By Godang Sitompul

A vessel has departed from East Kalimantan carrying LNG from the Bontang LNG plant for the West Java Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) operated by PT Nusantara Regas in the Jakarta Bay.

Total E&P Indonesie, a subsidiary of French energy firm Total SA, which is the main supplier of gas to the Bontang LNG plant, said in a press statement on Wednesday that the tanker carrying the LNG, called Aquarius, left the Bontang port for Tanjung Priok on Wednesday.

It is the first shipment of LNG to the country?s first floating LNG terminal.

?Total E&P Indonesie together with INPEX Corporation through Mahakam PSC will supply LNG cargo with quantity of 11.75 Mt during the 2012-2022 contract period. This floating LNG terminal is the first LNG receiving terminal that has been built in Indonesia to facilitate increasing gas supply to meet domestic demand.

?Discussions in respect of this LNG supply agreement started in 2008 and Total E&P Indonesie is pleased to witness the realization of an important milestone in the national gas infrastructure development and to play an important role in this national project as the first Indonesian gas producer to commit LNG supply for the growing national energy demand?, said Elisabeth Proust, President Director and General Manager of Total E&P Indonesie.

The commencement of LNG supply to the FSRU will raise Mahakam PSC?s contribution to the domestic market beyond 2012 to above 25% of its production level.

?This shows once again the commitment of Total and Inpex to support the national energy program aiming at increased gas supply to the Indonesian domestic market. It will also largely contribute to the Government of Indonesia?s objective to convert from fuel oil to gas for power generation,? she said.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon