West Java LNG terminal to be commissioned in Oct. 2011

The government will take all necessary measures to make sure the floating storage receiving unit (FSRU) in the western part of Java will be completed on schedule in September 2011.

Director General for Oil and Gas Evita H. Legowo said in her year-end reflection over the weekend the commissioning of the facility would take place in October 2011 barring any unforeseeable disruptions.

She added that development of the same facility in the northern part of Sumatra would be revived in 2012 following misunderstanding with state power producer PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (Persero) (PLN) that delayed the project last year. ?We have reported to the vice president that the facility would be completed in 2012, not at the end of 2011,? she said.

The government has finished a study on development of another receiving unit either in Central Java or East Java and will decided whether to go ahead with the plan in 2011, she added.

The FSRU is operated by PT Nusantara Regas (NR), which is a joint venture between state oil, gas company PT Pertamina (Persero) and state gas distribution firm PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) with the former holding a 60 percent stake.

LNG supply for the project will partly be provided by Total-operated Mahakam block.

PLN will offtake most of the LNG to fuel its power plants in Jakarta area. (kanti)